Abstract: A faceplate for a chassis composed of a moldable material and various methods of fabricating and assembling the faceplate into a fan-cooled electronics enclosure. In one embodiment, the faceplate includes: (1) a chassis mount adapted to cooperate with a corresponding first faceplate mount on the chassis to register the faceplate with respect to the chassis, (2) a fan mount adapted to cooperate with a corresponding second faceplate mount on a fan to register the faceplate with respect to the chassis and (3) a grille proximate the fan mount, the chassis mount and the fan mount cooperating to affix the fan to the chassis when the faceplate is mounted to the chassis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic interference (EMI) module cover for use in an electronics module that is configured to house electrical components that are capable of generating electromagnetic emissions that cause EMI. In one embodiment a conductive sidepanel has a resilient cantilever member formed therefrom with a fixed end that is integrally formed with the sidepanel and a movable end that is free of a module coupler, thereby allowing the resilient cantilever member to flex as the module is installed in a chassis. The resilient cantilever member has a boss that is formed proximate to the movable free end. The boss extends outward from the sidepanel a distance sufficient to provide a conductive path between the conductive sidepanel and an adjacent conductive surface when the module is installed in the chassis.

Abstract: For use with an electronic equipment chassis having a module support member adapted to receive an electronic module and having a conduit containing an electrical conductor proximate the module support member, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) cover, method of manufacturing the EMI cover and electronic equipment chassis employing the same. In one embodiment, the EMI cover includes a conductive body that substantially conforms to the conduit and a boss extending from the conductive body and configured to contact a conductive case of the electronic module. The boss provides a conductive path between the conduit and the electronic module to establish a common voltage potential therebetween thereby reducing EMI emissions associated with the electronic module.

Abstract: A chassis assembly for receiving power supply modules therein. The chassis assembly includes: (1) a cabinet, (2) an elongated bus bar assembly configured to be supported within the cabinet from a mount coupled to the cabinet, the bus bar assembly having a pair of conductors capable of receiving a terminal connector of a power supply module received into the cabinet and (3) a shelf, oriented laterally with respect to the bus bar assembly, that supports at least one power supply module received into the cabinet, the bus bar assembly being substantially free of terminal connectors and adapted to eliminate a need for support of a portion of a weight of the bus bar assembly apart from the mount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat sink that, in an advantageous embodiment, includes a spine having a width with first and second opposing sides that are oriented to be abnormal to the substrate when the heat sink is mounted on the substrate. The heat sink further includes an electronic device support leg that extends generally transverse from the first side and that is configured to support a heat generating electrical component thereon. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may include a plurality of such electronic device support legs. A plurality of cooling fins are also included in the present invention, extending from the second side. Moreover, each of the plurality of cooling fins has a depth that is substantially less than the width of the heat sink, which give this unique heat sink an exceptional cooling efficiency. In particular advantageous embodiments, the depth to width ratio of the fins and spine, may range from about 1 to 5 or 1 to 10, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system for providing fuel to a backup electrical fuel cell. In this particular embodiment, the system includes a sealed fuel container having a pierceable membrane with a container seal associated therewith, an acerate tube proximate the pierceable membrane, and an actuator. The actuator is coupled to the acerate tube and automatically drives the acerate tube through the pierceable membrane to provide fluid communication from the fuel container to the fuel cell in response to a failure of a primary electrical power system. The container seal is configured to form a seal about the acerate tube when the acerate tube pierces the pierceable membrane to prevent unnecessary loss of fuel, such as methanol, from the container. In alternative embodiments, the system may also include the primary power system and a backup electrical fuel cell that is electrically coupled to the primary power system.

Abstract: Battery backed-up power units, and battery disconnect modules and methods of manufacturing the same. One of the battery disconnect modules includes: (1) a contactor having a body, a control input and rigid conductors extending from the body and (2) a control circuit mount, connected to and supported by the rigid conductors, that contains control circuitry that controls the contactor by the control input, the rigid conductors connected to busbars within the battery backed-up power unit to provide a mount for the battery disconnect module and allow said control circuit to monitor a characteristic of a battery within the battery backed-up power unit and control the contactor in response thereto.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated exclusion filter and pressurizing device which prevents leakage of unfiltered fluid across the interface area between a rotating filtering apparatus and non-rotating bulkhead. The exclusion filter utilized is of the type which utilizes Boundary Layer Momentum Transfer methodology to achieve filtration, and which includes a cylindrical stack of substantially flat annular plates. A pressurizing device is utilized downstream from the exclusion filter to repressurize filtered fluid and direct the filtered fluid toward the interface area. Either all the filtered fluid or only a portion may be repressurized, and some of the filtered fluid may be directed toward the bulkhead itself to aid pressurization by creating a local stagnation region. The pressurizing device may utilize flow diverting vanes in a housing, including blowers, pumps, compressors, and fans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced exclusion filter having a cylindrical stack of substantially identical annular disks and a central rotating element. Each annular disk engages the rotating element by at least one strut which extends inward from the inner perimeter of the annular disk toward the central axis of the cylindrical stack. Protuberances extend from the annular disks and engage depressions in adjacent annular disks to maintain the spacing between adjacent annular disks. Dimples extending through the annular disks may be utilized to form a depression on one surface of an annular disk and a protuberance on the opposite surface of the annular disk. The annular disks are angularly offset by a fixed amount from the adjacent annular disks so that rough vane surfaces are formed by the struts of the annular disks. Preferably a pattern of substantially identical angular offsets is used.

Abstract: A chassis for containing electromagnetic interference ("EMI") generating equipment and methods of operation and manufacturing thereof. The chassis includes: (1) a cabinet having a base wall, the base wall having hinge race slots located along a forward edge thereof, lances between the hinge race slots and the forward edge forming hinge pins and (2) a door having arcuate hinge races extending from a hinge edge thereof and through corresponding ones of the hinge race slots to cooperate with the hinge pins to form hinges for the door. The hinge races have locking tabs extending laterally therefrom. The locking tabs have bent portions preventing the hinge races from being withdrawn from the hinge race slots.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated exclusion filter and pressurizing device which prevents leakage of unfiltered fluid across the interface area between a rotating filtering apparatus and non-rotating bulkhead. The exclusion filter utilized is of the type which utilizes Boundary Layer Momentum Transfer methodology to achieve filtration, and which includes a cylindrical stack of substantially flat annular plates. A pressurizing device is utilized downstream from the exclusion filter to repressurize filtered fluid and direct the filtered fluid toward the interface area. Either all the filtered fluid or only a portion may be repressurized, and some of the filtered fluid may be directed toward the bulkhead itself to aid pressurization by creating a local stagnation region. The pressurizing device may utilize flow diverting blades in a housing, including blowers, pumps, compressors, and fans.

Abstract: A hybrid standby power system for producing regulated DC electrical power, a method of producing such power and a telecommunications installation that employs either the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a primary power input, couplable to a primary power source, that accepts primary electrical power subject to interruption, (2) a standby power input, couplable to a standby power source, that accepts unregulated standby electrical power and (3) a power converter, couplable to at least one of the primary and standby power inputs, including a rectifier that rectifies at least one of the primary and standby electrical power to provide unregulated DC electrical power and a DC--DC converter that converts the unregulated DC electrical power into the regulated DC electrical power.

Abstract: For use with a reserve battery couplable to a source of electrical power, a battery connect/disconnect circuit, including: (1) a switching subcircuit comprising a series-coupled controllable switch and diode and connected in electrical series with the reserve battery, the diode reverse-biased with respect the source of electrical power, (2) a contactor coupled in electrical parallel with the switching subcircuit and (3) a control circuit, coupled to the switching subcircuit and the contactor, that selectively closes the contactor to couple the reserve battery to the source of electrical power to charge the reserve battery.

Abstract: A chassis for receiving power supply modules therein, including: (1) a cabinet; (2) an elongated bus bar assembly suspendable within the cabinet from a mount coupled to the cabinet at an end thereof, the bus bar assembly having a pair of conductors, the pair of conductors having terminal connectors associated therewith for receiving output terminals of a power supply module received into the cabinet (3) a shelf, oriented laterally with respect to the bus bar assembly and located proximate the terminal connectors, that supports at least one power supply module received into the cabinet, the bus bar assembly being suspendable to eliminate a need for support of a weight of the bus bar assembly apart from the mount.

Abstract: A chassis for containing electromagnetic interference ("EMI")-generating equipment and methods of operation and manufacturing thereof. The chassis includes: (1) a cabinet having a base wall, the base wall having hinge race slots located along a forward edge thereof, lances between the hinge race slots and the forward edge forming hinge pins and (2) a door having arcuate hinge races extending from a hinge edge thereof and through corresponding ones of the hinge race slots to cooperate with the hinge pins to form hinges for the door. The hinge races have locking tabs extending laterally therefrom. The locking tabs have bent portions preventing the hinge races from being withdrawn from the hinge race slots.

Abstract: A current sensing element is included as an integral part of a magnetic component by mounting a toroidal magnetic core having a current sensing winding into a receptacle of a winding bobbin of the magnetic component. This eliminates a need for a separate board mounted current sensing winding thereby saving circuit board space and reducing overall parts count on the circuit board, and circuit assembly costs.