IP Library Granted Patent US 9,768,591
Granted Patent B1
US 9,768,591 · App. 15/254,992 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

PDU with front side access to transformer compartment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,768,591
App. No.
15/254,992
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A PDU enclosure defines a transformer compartment for receiving a transformer. The PDU enclosure includes a first side bulkhead and a second side bulkhead positioned adjacent to each other as viewed on a plane. The first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead limit access to the transformer compartment from the front. The first side bulkhead defines an opening to the transformer compartment and is spaced from the second side bulkhead by a gap. The PDU enclosure further includes a removable access panel. The removable access panel includes a first portion removably coupled to the first side bulkhead and that covers the opening in the first side bulkhead, and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion and removably coupled to the second side bulkhead. The second portion also covers the gap between the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

Claims (37)

1. A cabinet-type power distribution unit (PDU) enclosure for allowing access to a transformer from a front of the PDU enclosure comprising:

an outer casing at least partially defining a transformer compartment for receiving the transformer;

a first side bulkhead and a second side bulkhead each coupled to the outer casing, positioned adjacent to each other as viewed on a plane from the front of the PDU enclosure, and at least partially limiting access to the transformer compartment from the front of the PDU enclosure, the first side bulkhead defining an opening to the transformer compartment and being spaced from the second side bulkhead by a gap in a direction perpendicular to the plane; and

a removable access panel having:

a first portion configured to be removably coupled to the first side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead, and

a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion and configured to be removably coupled to the second side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the gap between the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

2. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the removable access panel further includes a third portion having a height that is less than the first portion and the second portion and configured to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead, wherein the first portion is positioned between the second portion and the third portion.

3. The PDU enclosure of claim 2 wherein the removable access panel further includes a separator portion positioned between the first portion and the third portion and extending towards the front of the PDU enclosure from the first portion and the third portion and configured to at least partially define a routing channel for cables.

4. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the removable access panel includes sheet metal steel formed into the first portion and the second portion.

5. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the first side bulkhead is positioned to the left of the second side bulkhead when viewed from the front of the PDU enclosure and the first side bulkhead is recessed relative to the second side bulkhead such that the second side bulkhead is nearer to the front of the PDU enclosure than the first side bulkhead.

6. The PDU enclosure of claim 5 wherein the first side bulkhead includes an input component mounting space configured to receive input components corresponding to inputs of the transformer and the second side bulkhead includes an output component mounting space configured to receive output components corresponding to outputs of the transformer.

7. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the transformer may be accessed from the front of the PDU enclosure while the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead remain coupled to the outer casing by removing the removable access panel.

8. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the removable access panel defines at least one aperture configured to allow a thermal reading of a connection of the transformer while the removable access panel is coupled to the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

9. The PDU enclosure of claim 1 wherein the removable access panel includes at least one flange configured to interface with the first side bulkhead or the second side bulkhead to facilitate alignment of the removable access panel relative to the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

10. A cabinet-type power distribution unit (PDU) enclosure for allowing access to a transformer from a front of the PDU enclosure comprising:

an outer casing at least partially defining a transformer compartment for receiving the transformer;

a first side bulkhead coupled to the outer casing, at least partially limiting access to the transformer, defining an opening to the transformer compartment, and positioned along a plane;

a second side bulkhead coupled to the outer casing, at least partially limiting access to the transformer, and oriented parallel to the plane, the second side bulkhead being spaced from the first side bulkhead by a gap in a direction perpendicular to the plane; and

a removable access panel having:

a first portion configured to be removably coupled to the first side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead, and

a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion and configured to be removably coupled to the second side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the gap between the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

11. The PDU enclosure of claim 10 wherein the removable access panel further includes a third portion having a height that is less than the first portion and the second portion and configured to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead, wherein the first portion is positioned between the second portion and the third portion.

12. The PDU enclosure of claim 10 wherein the first side bulkhead is positioned to the left of the second side bulkhead when viewed from the front of the PDU enclosure and the first side bulkhead is recessed relative to the second side bulkhead such that the second side bulkhead is nearer to the front of the PDU enclosure than the first side bulkhead.

13. The PDU enclosure of claim 12 wherein the first side bulkhead includes an input component mounting space configured to receive input components corresponding to inputs of the transformer and the second side bulkhead includes an output component mounting space configured to receive output components corresponding to outputs of the transformer.

14. The PDU enclosure of claim 10 wherein the transformer may be accessed from the front of the PDU enclosure while the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead remain coupled to the outer casing by removing the removable access panel.

15. The PDU enclosure of claim 10 wherein the removable access panel defines at least one aperture configured to allow a thermal reading of a connection of the transformer while the removable access panel is coupled to the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

16. The PDU enclosure of claim 10 wherein the removable access panel includes at least one flange configured to interface with the first side bulkhead or the second side bulkhead to facilitate alignment of the removable access panel relative to the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

17. A cabinet-type power distribution unit (PDU) enclosure for allowing access to a transformer from a front of the PDU enclosure comprising:

an outer casing at least partially defining a transformer compartment for receiving the transformer;

a first side bulkhead and a second side bulkhead each coupled to the outer casing, positioned adjacent to each as viewed on a plane from the front of the PDU enclosure, and at least partially limiting access to the transformer compartment from the front of the PDU enclosure, the first side bulkhead defining an opening to the transformer compartment and being recessed relative to the second side bulkhead such that the first side bulkhead is spaced from the second side bulkhead by a gap in a direction perpendicular to the plane; and

a removable access panel having:

a first portion configured to be removably coupled to the first side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead, and

a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion and configured to be removably coupled to the second side bulkhead and to at least partially cover the gap between the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead, and

a third portion positioned parallel and adjacent to the first portion such that the first portion is positioned between the second portion and the third portion, the third portion being configured to at least partially cover the opening in the first side bulkhead.

18. The PDU enclosure of claim 17 wherein the first side bulkhead includes an input component mounting space configured to receive input components corresponding to inputs of the transformer and the second side bulkhead includes an output component mounting space configured to receive output components corresponding to outputs of the transformer.

19. The PDU enclosure of claim 17 wherein the transformer may be accessed from the front of the PDU enclosure while the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead remain coupled to the outer casing by removing the removable access panel.

20. The PDU enclosure of claim 17 wherein the removable access panel defines at least one aperture configured to allow a thermal reading of a connection of the transformer while the removable access panel is coupled to the first side bulkhead and the second side bulkhead.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2025
From: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070501/0959 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2020
From: VIRTUS GROUP, LP, AS AGENT
To: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 051922/0144 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: VIRTUS GROUP, LP
Reel/Frame 042104/0938 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 041074/0203 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
To: VIRTUS GROUP, LP
Reel/Frame 041085/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2016
From: NGUYEN, LONG JUSTIN; FOLK, ISAAC; DAVIS, CHRISTOPHER MORGAN; ZHAO, MINGBO
To: POWER DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 039618/0695 →