AU2013200615A1 - Security Trolley with Charging Facility - Google Patents

Abstract

A security cabinet for storing battery powered appliances while they receive a recharge has compartments for housing multiple laptop computers. The cabinet lid gives access to ganged sockets and the sockets are accessible for the compartments through a shelf provided with a wiring aperture for each compartment. In a variant for iPad@ devices the compartment is located beside a panel with suitable sockets for the individual iPad@ chargers. The cabinet has a charging circuit which is mains powered. The cabinet is mobile and is securable to the floor of a building to prevent theft. 2013-02-06,C:\Users\Shadene'Documenits\SPECTHCATIONSamapro.cap.8pd,8 '12 14 < 26 4 GANG POWER 42 RCD MCB BOARD A A A E"O o o o' N N -"' 111 4 240 VAC Ei , i U . N E . 0 0,A if48 46 N- E650 E ,R25N E . FIGURE 254

Description

1 TITLE OF INVENTION Security Trolley with Charging Facility TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention concerns cabinets for storage of electrical devices which need periodic charging with mains electricity. [0002] In teaching establishments it is common for students to bring electrical devices such as desk top computers and laptops into the building and to take them away at the end of the instruction period. In some schools and learning centres such computers and laptops are provided for loan to students and pupils but they remain permanently in the building as part of the facilities and equipment of the building. [0003] The problems posed by the provision of expensive equipment is firstly security and secondly its reliable operation. Administrative staff must keep count of the numbers of items in use to prevent large scale loss in the event of a break-in or burglary and to maintain the state of charge of the individual devices in order to ensure minimum downtime. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0004] Power supply apparatus for appliances using rechargeable batteries comprising a magazine having at least one compartment for safe storage of appliances and a power circuit with multiple accessible power outlets, whereby appliances are connectable temporarily to outlets for battery charging. [0005] In a preferred embodiment the magazine has an upper tier of compartments and a lower tier of compartments each capable of storing two laptop computers side by side. [0006] The magazine is a cabinet on wheels enabling it to be moved from room to room. The 20L3-2-06,CAUs\ShaenDocumenIts\SPECWICATIONamr.caup.npd,1 2 base has a mechanism for locking the cabinet to the floor thereby preventing authorised removal. [0007] The cabinet has a hinged lid and between the lid and the top tier are wall portions which mount ganged electrical sockets. The sockets are wired in parallel to an over current protection device and a device which prevents current leakage. The supply circuit is connectable to the mains supply in the building. [0008] Doors on the cabinet give access to the tiers enabling the computers to be slid in and out of the compartments. The cabinet and doors have ventilation apertures. [0009] The leads from the sockets to the compartments remain in situ so that initial connection is made manually between the lead and the computer. Charging connences for all the onboard computers and interception of the charge likewise occurs simultaneously when the cabinet is connected to the mains. [0010] In a variant suitable for iPad@ computers which are of smaller size, the magazine is a single compartment. The ganged electrical sockets are of the car cigarette lighter type mounted on a panel adjacent the compartment. The computers lie upright and side by side in the compartment. A lead extends from each socket to a USB type plug inserted into each socket. [0011] A central housing extends from the cabinet base toward the floor and has a passage which allows the cabinet to be wheeled into a position where the housing overlies the floor fitting with an upstanding hook. The housing has a bolt which engages the hook and a rise and fall arrester which in turn engages the bolt preventing withdrawal from the hook. The arrester motion is solenoid operated. The overlying cabinet denies access to the floor fitting. Advantageous Effects of Invention [0012] 1. See at a glance if one is missing. [0013] 2. Cabinet can be tethered to the interior of the building. 2013-02-6,C:\Uses\.Shadene\Doomess\SPECIFICAT1ONS\amapro.cap.pd,2 3 [0014] 3. Security of individual devices. [0015] 4. Convenience of group charging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0016] Further embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0017] Figure l is a perspective of a trolley for 16 laptop computers with one door removed for clarity. [0018] Figure 2 is the wiring diagram for Figure 1 and a diagram of the appliance and its charger. [0019] Figure 3 is a perspective of a trolley for 28 large iPad@ computers. [0020] Figure 4 is the wiring diagram for Figure 3. [0021] Figure 5 is a perspective of a trolley for 14 small iPad@ computers. [0022] Figure 6 is the wiring diagram for Figure 5. [0023] Figure 7 is a perspective of a lead for the trolley of Figure 5. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0024] In Figure 1 trolley 2 is made of sheet metal panels in order to constitute a mobile safe. Opposite walls 4 and rear wall 6 are joined by base panel 8, top plate 10 and mid shelf 12. Lockable doors 14 close in top tier 16 and bottom tier 18. Castors 20 are fixed to base panel 8. A bracket (not shown) is fixed to the floor panel in order to engage a fastener projecting from the 2013-02-06,C:\Users\SnelDocunwntsSPECIFICATIONS'maprorapwpd,3 4 floor which is locked and unlocked with a remote control. Tiers 16 and 18 are separated into eight compartments 22 by six dividers 24. The dividers, top plate and rear wall 6 all have perforations 26 to allow cooling. [0025] Top plate 10 is 100mm below the wall perimeter in order to create wall space to mount four sets of four ganged electrical sockets 28. Steel lid 30 gives access to the sockets. Handle 32 allows the trolley to be steered. [0026] Figure 2 shows the sockets 28 grouped on a four gang power board 40. Two boards are fixed between the top plate 10 and the lid 30 to the two side walls 4. Live conductor 42 connects all four boards in parallel to a combined residual current circuit breaker 44 which has an over current protection device therein. [0027] A residual current circuit breaker cannot remove all risk of electric shock or fire. It will not detect overload, phase to neutral short circuits or phase to phase short circuits. Over current protection is therefore provided. [0028] The RCD/MCB is connected by a flex to 240v AC. Each computer has a charge socket into which is inserted the single pole charging plug 46. Beside the circuit diagram of a diagram of the computer and charger. Plug 46 is connected by lead 48 to its power pack 50 and in turn by lead 52 to a two or three pin plug 54 intended for the power board sockets. In use the computer and its power pack are inserted into each compartment and the plug 54 is threaded through aperture 26 in the top plate to reach the power board sockets. The single pole charging plug 46 remains in the compartment ready to be connected and disconnected from the computer. In this way all the computers for a class can be loaded into the cabinet which is subsequently locked and tethered to the floor or wall and the cabinet utilises a single power socket in the classroom for simultaneously charging all the computer batteries. [0029] In the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 5, two compartments 60, 62 of fourteen of the smaller notebook type of computers receive a smaller charging current through a pair of 12v MEANWELL-S-100F power supplies 64, 66. The circuits in Figure 4 shows these components 2013-02-06,C:\Uss\Shaknel tcumntsSPECIFICATIONSamnpr.cap.wpd,4 5 receive 240v AC from mains supply 68 through the RCD/MCB 70 as in the embodiment described above. Panel 72 containing fourteen cigarette lighter sockets 74 is connected to the S 10OF 12 power supplies by conductors 76, 78 and through a switch and fuse 80, 82 for each bank of sockets. [0030] The circuit in Figure 6 contains a Meanwell S-100F-12 power supply 64 which is controlled by fuse 86 and switch 88 and is connected in parallel to each of fourteen sockets mounted on panel 90. The RCDIMCB confers protection is in the circuits earlier described. Figure 7 indicates how the panel 90 is wired to the S-lOOF-12 charger. [0031] Each device is connected to a panel socket by the plug and lead supplied with the computer. All fourteen sockets are connected in parallel by a lead 92 which has fourteen 4mm female bullet plugs 94 (see Figure 7). The lead has a terminal 96 with contacts for the active and neutral lines from line/switch and the S-100F power supply. [0032] It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements. [0033] It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention. 2013-02-,C\UsersShadene\Douments\SPECF1ICAT1ONSamapro.cap,wpd,5

Claims (13)

1. Power supply apparatus for appliances using rechargeable batteries comprising a magazine having at least one compartment for secure storage of appliances and a power circuit with multiple accessible power outlets, whereby appliances are connectable temporarily to outlets for battery charging.

2. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the magazine is a cabinet with an upper tier of compartments and a lower tier of compartments for storage of appliances.

3. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein one or more lockable cabinet doors give access to the compartments.

4. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein each compartment is capable of storing two laptop computers side by side.

5. Power supply apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2-4, wherein the cabinet has a lid and between the upper tier and the lid is an area which mounts ganged electrical sockets.

6. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the area is the portions of cabinet wall between the top tier and the lid.

7. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the top tier has a cover with multiple apertures through which the appliances in the compartments are plugged in to the electrical sockets.

8. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the magazine has a single compartment for storage of appliances and an area alongside equipped with multiple charging sockets.

9. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the magazine has a pair of

2013-02-06,C\Users\ShaeneDocm ents\SPEClEICATIONSamapro cap.pd.6 7 compartments separated by an area with multiple charging sockets.

10. Power supply apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9, wherein the magazine is a cabinet on wheels enabling it to be moved from room to room.

11. Power supply apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the cabinet base has a mechanism for locking the cabinet to a floor fitting thereby preventing unauthorised removal.

12. Power supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the mechanism is activated by remote control.

13. Power supply apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2-12, wherein the cabinet walls are louvred or otherwise perforated for air flow. 2013-02-06,C:\UseriShtadene\Documents\SPECIFlCATIONSaarocap;npd,7