High outlet density power distribution
View Patent ↗Systems and apparatuses are provided in which outlets are coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU) or PDU module in various configurations. The outlets may be coupled to a recessed surface within a PDU housing. The outlets may be coupled to a printed circuit board that is at least partially disposed within the PDU housing. The outlets may extend away from the recessed surface or printed circuit board towards or beyond a front face of the PDU housing.
1. A power distribution unit, comprising:
a housing comprising a front face having at least one aperture therein;
a power input coupled with the housing and connectable to an external power source; and
at least one outlet bank located at least partially within the housing, said at least one outlet bank comprising a plurality of power outlets that are coupled with a recessed surface of the at least one outlet bank, said recessed surface being located inwardly from the front face in an interior portion of the housing and accessible through the at least one aperture, and each of the plurality of power outlets extending away from the recessed surface;
wherein the housing further comprises a lip around at least a portion of said at least one aperture, said lip extending over a portion of the recessed surface and adapted to engage with a plug retention tab that extends from an arm of a plug that is coupleable with one or more of the plurality of outlets.
2. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outlets includes an outlet core without an associated outer jacket or mounting flange.
3. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outlets is electrically coupled with a power source through a printed circuit board within the housing of the PDU.
4. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet bank comprises an unobstructed space between adjacent power outlets of the plurality of power outlets.
5. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein said lip extends from the front face of the housing over said portion of the recessed surface.
6. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein said lip circumscribes the plurality of power outlets.
7. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein said lip is integrated into the front face of the housing.
8. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein the recessed surface forms a tray for mounting the outlets that seals an internal portion of the housing to provide a substantially air tight internal portion.
9. The power distribution unit of claim 8 , wherein the internal portion of the housing includes power measurement and distribution components.
10. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet bank comprises:
a printed circuit board comprising one or more input power connections and a plurality of output power connections coupled with at least one of the one or more input power connections; and
wherein each of the plurality of outlets includes an outlet core mounted to the printed circuit board, each of the plurality of outlet cores coupled with one or more of the output power connections, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of outlet cores comprises an outlet core without an associated outer jacket or mounting flange.
11. The power distribution unit of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of outlet cores extends away from a surface of the printed circuit board.
12. The power distribution unit of claim 10 , wherein a surface area of the printed circuit board associated with each outlet core of the subset of outlet cores is at least 20 percent less than the surface area associated with an outlet core having an associated outer jacket or mounting flange.
13. The power distribution unit of claim 10 , wherein the printed circuit board forms a tray for mounting the outlets that is configured to seal an internal portion of a power distribution unit housing to provide a substantially air tight internal portion.
14. The power distribution unit of claim 13 , wherein the internal portion of the housing includes power measurement and distribution components.
15. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outlets extends a portion of the distance between the recessed surface and a plane of the front face of the PDU, wherein an upper surface of each of the plurality of outlets terminates in close proximity to and below the plane of the front face of the PDU.
16. The power distribution unit of claim 15 , wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of outlets terminates below the plane of the front face of the PDU at a distance no more than approximately 1.5 inches.
17. A power distribution unit, comprising:
a housing comprising a front face having at least one aperture therein;
a power input coupled with the housing and connectable to an external power source; and
at least one outlet bank located at least partially within the housing, said at least one outlet bank comprising a plurality of power outlets that are coupled with a recessed surface of the at least one outlet bank, said recessed surface being located inwardly from the front face in an interior portion of the housing and accessible through the at least one aperture, and each of the plurality of power outlets extending away from the recessed surface;
wherein each of the plurality of outlets includes an outlet core without an associated outer jacket or mounting flange, and wherein the housing further comprises a lip around at least a portion of said at least one aperture, said lip extending over a portion of the recessed surface.
18. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of outlets is electrically coupled with a power source through a printed circuit board within the housing of the PDU.
19. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein the at least one outlet bank comprises an unobstructed space between adjacent power outlets of the plurality of power outlets.
20. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein said lip extends from the front face of the housing over said portion of the recessed surface.
21. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein said lip circumscribes the plurality of power outlets.
22. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein said lip is integrated into the front face of the housing.
23. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein the recessed surface forms a tray for mounting the outlets that seals an internal portion of the housing to provide a substantially air tight internal portion.
24. The power distribution unit of claim 23 , wherein the internal portion of the housing includes power measurement and distribution components.
25. The power distribution unit of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of outlets extends a portion of the distance between the recessed surface and a plane of the front face of the PDU, wherein an upper surface of each of the plurality of outlets terminates in close proximity to and below the plane of the front face of the PDU.
26. The power distribution unit of claim 25 , wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of outlets terminates below the plane of the front face of the PDU at a distance no more than approximately 1.5 inches.
27. A power distribution unit, comprising:
a power distribution unit (PDU) housing comprising a front face having a plurality of apertures therein;
a power input coupled with the PDU housing and connectable to an external power source; and
a plurality of outlet banks located at least partially within the PDU housing, each of the outlet banks comprising a plurality of power outlets that are rotationally coupled with the PDU housing through an outlet shaft housing,
wherein the outlet shaft housing receives a cord coupled with each outlet and provides for rotation of the outlet relative to the PDU housing,
wherein the outlet shaft housing comprises a cavity to receive a portion of the cord, and
wherein the one or more outlets are extendable away from the outlet shaft housing and retractable toward the outlet shaft housing.
28. The power distribution unit of claim 27 , wherein an exit point of the cord from the outlet shaft housing is oriented such that it minimizes the movement of the conductors within the outlet shaft housing.
29. The power distribution unit of claim 27 , wherein the outlet shaft housing provides strain relief for the cord.
30. An outlet module for a power distribution unit, comprising:
a cylindrical outlet enclosure housing that is mountable in a power distribution unit;
an outlet shaft housing rotatably mounted within said outlet enclosure housing and comprising one or more input power connections and a plurality of output power connections coupled with at least one of the one or more input power connections; and
a plurality of outlets coupled with said outlet shaft housing via power cords that are each coupled with one or more of the output power connections, wherein each of said plurality of outlets is rotatable relative to said outlet enclosure housing, and
wherein said outlet shaft housing further comprises a cavity to receive a portion of the cord from each outlet, and a portion of the cord of each outlet may be inserted into and withdrawn from said cavity when the respective outlet is retracted into or extended from said outlet shaft housing.
31. The outlet module of claim 30 , wherein said outlet shaft housing provides strain relief for said cords of said plurality of outlets.
32. The outlet module of claim 30 , wherein each outlet is independently rotatable relative to said outlet enclosure housing.