General Electric Company

International Business Machines Corporation

John Joseph Struble, Jr

Edgar Yee

Karl Klaus Dittus

Richard E Bernier

Gilbert Anthony Soares

Charles William Piper

Stephen Peter Mroz

Michael Sven Miller

Pankaj Shivcharan Gupta

Amit Narang

David Edward Thorn

Elwood Combs

Ranjit Sunil Acharya

Edward Bruce Bynum, Jr

Edward Stanely Suffern

Eric Alan Eckberg

Shareef Fathi Alshinnawi

J Mark Weber

Scott Alan Shurson

John Mark Weber

Joseph Francis Herman

John Geoffrey Gundlach

A networking system includes a host adapter card including a card connector having four transceiver pairs and a mechanical connector configuration, and a controller having control logic for detecting whether a single-channel connection or a four-channel connection is made to the card connector. The controller further includes control logic for communicating over a network using a default, four-channel-protocol in response to detecting the four-channel connection or using an alternative, single-channel-protocol in response to detecting the single-channel connection. The system further includes an alternative-network compatibility device including a first connector configured for releasably mating with the card connector and a second connector having a different mechanical connector configuration than the card connector. The alternative-network compatibility device includes a transceiver lane from the first connector end to the second connector end, which transceiver lane is placed in connection with one of the four transceiver pairs when mated with the card connector.

Automated protocol selection for host adapter card

A rack for supporting electronic devices and modules with adjustable rails. The rack has a vertical wall with a set of holes at various elevations, each set of holes including at least a proximal hole evenly spaced apart from a distal hole. A longitudinally-extending rail has a set of clips for selectively securing the rail to the vertical wall, wherein the set of clips includes at least a proximal clip selectively receivable in the proximal hole at a selected elevation for supporting a proximal end of the rail and a distal clip selectively receivable in the distal hole at the selected elevation for supporting a distal end of the rail. The system may include a second rail for securing to an opposing vertical wall of the rack to form a shelf or bay for an electronic device. Each rail may be latched in place and can be selectively installed and removed without use of tools.

Toolless rail mounting for a computer system rack

Method and apparatus for blind docking an electronic device or module with an electrical connector, for example within a rack for a computer system. A forwardly-directed power connector is secured to a distal end of at least one rail or shelf bracket for blind docking with a rearwardly-directed power connector on the electronic module. The shelf bracket securing the forwardly-directed electrical connector is included in a pair of longitudinally-extending shelf brackets secured to opposing vertical side walls of a rack at a common elevation to form a module bay. The electronic module may slide along the shelf bracket until a rearwardly-directed power connector of the electronic module blind docks with the forwardly-directed power connector. A boss or alignment stud may be included on the bracket to improve alignment of the connectors. The forwardly-direct electrical connector may also be secured to the bracket with a floating connection to enable minor adjustments in alignment during blind docking.

Blind docking electrical connector

Method and apparatus for securely positioning a cable connector plug for blind docking an electronic device or module with an electrical connector, for example within a rack for a computer system. A bracket includes a chip that is selectively securable to open and close the bracket. A cable connector plug collar is laterally receivable in the bracket when the bracket is open. The bracket retains the collar in a circumferential tongue and groove relationship when the bracket is closed. When the bracket is properly positioned and secured within a rack bay, the bracket positions the connector plug for blind docking without restricting operative access to the connector plug. A preferred bracket is sufficiently flexible to allow lateral movement of the connector plug when the bracket is closed about the collar.

Floating cable connector retention module

A handle operating assembly suitable for use with an electric disconnect switch assembly having a circuit breaker. The handle operating assembly comprises a handle operator extending outward from the electric disconnect switch and movable between an ON and an OFF position and a face plate having a slot therein. The handle operator slidably moves in the slot between the OFF position and the ON position. The face plate mounts to the electric disconnect switch assembly and is positionable between a first position to prevent access to the circuit breaker and a second position to provide access to the circuit breaker. The handle operating assembly provides ease of accessibility to the electrical disconnect switch and ease of assembly.

Handle operating assembly for an electric disconnect switch

A locking device for use on an electric disconnect switch having a handle operator assembly. The locking device includes a slide plate slidably positioned within the housing and a first lock arranged to engage said slide plate and secure the handle operator assembly in an engaged position.

Locking device for handle operating mechanisms

A draw out unit with improved drawout box and handle assembly is disclosed. The drawout box is designed to accommodate an improved terminal assembly of the present invention, which reduces the dimensions of the box, and further provides access to the interior of the box by providing an open side for allowing service of an electrtical device within the bucket thus permitting the motor control center to remain active during service. The drawout box of the present invention further includes an improved handle assembly with operable connection to a circuit breaker handle within the confines of the smaller drawout box.

Plug-in draw out unit

A drawout unit is dimensioned to make more efficient use of the space within the drawout unit. Devices within the drawout unit are positioned in a generally vertical configuration. A bus brace serves as a line/load terminal assembly. The bus brace has receptacle ports enabling lugs to maintain electrical contact with vertically oriented bus bars on the line terminals and transfer current to horizontally oriented load terminals. Output cables extend horizontally from the load terminals and form a single right angle bend before passing out of the bottom of the drawout unit through an exit port.

Drawout unit and load/line terminal assembly

A draw out unit (,) mounts switching devices (,) within a switchgear unit and electrically connects the switching devices (,) to electrical bus bars (,). A cutout portion (,) in draw out unit (,) receives an insulative housing (,) for a lug adapter assembly (,). Lug adapter assembly (,) includes a plurality of clip assemblies (,) positioned within receptacles (,) formed on insulative housing (,). Each clip assembly (,) slidably accepts one bus bar (,), thereby providing an electrical connection to bus bars (,). Lug adapter assembly (,) also includes lugs (,), which are electrically connected to clip assemblies (,) via a conductive bar (,). Lugs (,) accept wires (,), which extend from lugs (,) in switching device (,). Lugs (,) are arranged to minimize bending of wires (,). Clip assemblies (,) each include a plurality of staggered clips (,). Upon insertion of draw out unit (,) into the switchgear, each bus bar (,) is received by the contact arms (,) of first clip (,), before being received by contact arms (,) of the second clip (,).

Growing community of inventors

Mebane, NC, United States of America

John Joseph Struble, Jr