Sliding Power Connector Assembly for Extendible Equipment Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems with extendible equipment racks face challenges due to the need for long power wires that occupy valuable space and require additional cable management, leading to increased size and stiffness as power requirements grow.
Innovation Solution
A power connector assembly featuring a sliding power connector that maintains electrical connection with a power rail as the equipment rack is extended, eliminating the need for long power wires and reducing space occupancy by integrating the power supply within the equipment cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long power wires are used to accommodate full rack extension, then power can be maintained during service, but valuable space within the equipment rack is occupied and cable management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power wire from the traditional routing through the equipment rack and relocates it to an external path along the equipment cabinet. The power wire is now routed from the power supply in the equipment cabinet, along the cabinet exterior, to the equipment rack, eliminating the need for wires to traverse the rack interior during extension cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a cable management arm as an intermediary mechanism that guides the power wire along the equipment cabinet exterior. This arm provides a dedicated pathway that accommodates the wire's movement during rack extension while preventing the wire from occupying space within the equipment rack itself.
2Reliability
If cable management arm is added to guide power wire extension, then wire damage is prevented, but additional space within the equipment cabinet is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the cable management function from the internal three-dimensional space of the equipment rack to the external surface of the equipment cabinet. The cable management arm is positioned on the cabinet exterior, utilizing the external dimensional space rather than consuming internal rack volume.
3Power
If power requirements increase, then more power can be supplied to communication system, but size and stiffness of wire bundles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the routing parameter of the power wire from an internal rack path to an external cabinet path. This parameter change allows the wire to follow a more direct, optimized route that minimizes length and stiffness, while still accommodating the increased power requirements of the communication system.
Data Source
AI summary
A power connector assembly includes a power rail having a power supply circuit being configured to be mounted within an equipment cabinet and a sliding power connector configured to be terminated to a host circuit board. The sliding power connector has a power contact electrically connected to the power supply circuit of the power rail. The sliding power connector is configured to be slid along the power rail as an equipment rack holding the circuit board is opened and closed during an extension cycle of the equipment rack. The power contact maintains electrical connection with the power rail during the entire extension cycle.