TWO-PLUG ELECTRICAL OUTLET WITH DUAL VOLTAGE

• US 20080286995A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,476,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A unique arrangement includes a duplex receptacle outlet providing two voltages. A first power wire supplying a first voltage is connected to the receptacle supplying a higher voltage. A second power wire is connected to both receptacles, and a neutral wire is connected to the receptacle supplying a lower voltage. In this manner, a standard electrical outlet need only be modified such that the receptacle has its plug interface modified to receive a standard higher voltage.

Claims

1. A duplex receptacle electrical outlet comprising:

a pair of receptacle locations, with a first of said receptacle locations being configured to receive a first type standard plug, and a second of the receptacle locations being configured to receive a second type standard plug, and said first and second receptacle locations being capable of being utilized simultaneously.

2. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second standard plug types are for first and second voltages, respectively.

3. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first voltage is twice said second voltage.

4. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 3, wherein a cable having at least three wires is connected to supply power to the two receptacles.

5. A duplex receptacle electrical outlet comprising:

a pair of receptacle locations, with a first of said receptacle locations being configured to receive a first type standard plug, and a second of the receptacle locations being configured to receive a second type standard plug, said first and second standard plug types are for first and second voltages, respectively, said first voltage is twice said second voltage;

a cable having at least three wires is connected to supply power to the two receptacles; and

a first wire on the cable supplies a neutral path and is connected to the second receptacle, a second wire is to be powered to provide one of 110 and 120 V, and is connected to the first receptacle, and a third wire is to be powered to provide one of 110 and 120 V and is connected to both of the first and second receptacles.

6. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 5, wherein a conductor connects the third wire from one of the first and second receptacles to the other of the first and second receptacles.

7. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said first and second receptacles is provided with two screws to connect the respective wires.

8. The duplex receptacle electrical outlet as set forth in claim 54, wherein a fourth wire is also provided in the cable and used as a ground wire for both receptacles.

9. A method of forming a receptacle electrical outlet comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of receptacle locations, with a first of said receptacle locations being configured to receive a standard plug of a first voltage, and a second of the receptacle locations being configured to receive a standard plug of a second voltage, said first receptacle providing said first voltage into said standard plug simultaneously as said second receptacle providing said second voltage to its standard plug.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first voltage is twice said second voltage.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein a cable having at least three wires is connected to supply power to the two receptacles.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a standard electrical outlet having two receptacle locations for providing one of 110 and 120 V is modified by replacing a cover plate such that one of the two receptacle locations is now configured to accept one of a 220 V and 240 plug.

12. A method of forming a receptacle electrical outlet comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a pair of receptacle locations, with a first of said receptacle locations being configured to receive a standard plug of a first voltage, and a second of the receptacle locations being configured to receive a standard plug of a second voltage, said first voltage is twice said second voltage;

(b) a cable having at least three wires is connected to supply power to the two receptacles,

(c) a first wire on the cable supplies a neutral path and is connected to the second receptacle, a second wire is powered to provide one of 110 and 120 V, and is connected to the first receptacle, and a third wire is powered to provide one of 110 and 120 V and is connected to both of the first and second receptacles.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a jumper wire connects the third wire from one of the first and second receptacles to the other of the first and second receptacles.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12, each of said first and second receptacles is provided with two screws to connect the respective wires.

15. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a fourth wire is also provided in the cable and connected to a ground connection for both receptacles.