Automatic transfer switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automatic transfer switch, comprising:
- a first breaker switch operably and interruptably connected between a load and a utility power source, the first breaker switch having a first breaker switch handle movable between ON and OFF positions;
a second breaker switch operably and interruptably connected between the load and an auxiliary power source, the second breaker switch having a second breaker switch handle movable between ON and OFF positions;
an interlock mechanism, operably interconnecting the first and second breaker switch handles, for selectably moving the one of the first and second breaker switch handles away from one of its ON or OFF positions to the other of its ON or OFF positions, while also moving the other of the first and second breaker switch handles away from its OFF or ON positions to the other of its OFF or ON positions, respectively;
a motor assembly, drivingly connected to the interlock mechanism; and
a controller, operably connected to the first and second breakers, the utility power supply, the auxiliary power supply, and the motor assembly, for actuating the interlock mechanism so as to cause the first and second breaker switch handles to change positions, upon detection by the controller of a change in at least one characteristic of utility power being supplied which corresponds to a predetermined condition indicating a possible impending loss of utility power;
the interlock mechanism includingan interlock member movably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for preventing both first and second breaker switch handles, so that upon movement of one of the first and second breaker switch handles to its ON position, causes the one of the first and second breaker switch handles contacts the interlock member, and causes it to move, and bear against the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to move the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to its OFF position; and
an actuator, moveably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in driven connection to the motor assembly and in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for selectively pushing one of the first and second breaker switch handles away from its OFF position, toward its ON position, so that the breaker switch handles are operably interposed between the interlock member and the actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic transfer switch apparatus for use with a stand-alone generator, for supplying emergency power to a residence or small business. The automatic transfer switch apparatus is configured to sense a utility line failure, start up and stabilize the generator, and switch over the household circuits from the utility to the generator, and switch back when the utility recovers. The transfer switches incorporate motor-driven switch interlock mechanisms in several embodiments, as well as various operational features.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automatic transfer switch, comprising:
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a first breaker switch operably and interruptably connected between a load and a utility power source, the first breaker switch having a first breaker switch handle movable between ON and OFF positions; a second breaker switch operably and interruptably connected between the load and an auxiliary power source, the second breaker switch having a second breaker switch handle movable between ON and OFF positions; an interlock mechanism, operably interconnecting the first and second breaker switch handles, for selectably moving the one of the first and second breaker switch handles away from one of its ON or OFF positions to the other of its ON or OFF positions, while also moving the other of the first and second breaker switch handles away from its OFF or ON positions to the other of its OFF or ON positions, respectively; a motor assembly, drivingly connected to the interlock mechanism; and a controller, operably connected to the first and second breakers, the utility power supply, the auxiliary power supply, and the motor assembly, for actuating the interlock mechanism so as to cause the first and second breaker switch handles to change positions, upon detection by the controller of a change in at least one characteristic of utility power being supplied which corresponds to a predetermined condition indicating a possible impending loss of utility power; the interlock mechanism including an interlock member movably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for preventing both first and second breaker switch handles, so that upon movement of one of the first and second breaker switch handles to its ON position, causes the one of the first and second breaker switch handles contacts the interlock member, and causes it to move, and bear against the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to move the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to its OFF position; and an actuator, moveably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in driven connection to the motor assembly and in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for selectively pushing one of the first and second breaker switch handles away from its OFF position, toward its ON position, so that the breaker switch handles are operably interposed between the interlock member and the actuator.
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2. An interlock mechanism for use in an automatic transfer switch having first and second breakers switches with corresponding first and second breaker switch handles, comprising:
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an interlock member movably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for preventing both first and second breaker switch handles, so that upon movement of one of the first and second breaker switch handles to its ON position, causes the one of the first and second breaker switch handles contacts the interlock member, and causes it to move, and bear against the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to move the other of the first and second breaker switch handles to its OFF position; and an actuator, moveably mounted adjacent to the first and second breaker switches, in driven connection to a prime mover, and in cooperating arrangement with the first and second breaker switch handles, for selectively pushing one of the first and second breaker switch handles away from its OFF position, toward its ON position, so that the breaker switch handles are operably interposed between the interlock member and the actuator, the interlock member and the actuator being cooperatively configured to enable both of the first and second breaker switch handles to be in their respective OFF positions, but to preclude both of the first and second breaker switch handles from being in their respective ON positions simultaneously, the interlock member and the actuator being further cooperatively configured so as to ensure that when the actuator is being driven to move a breaker switch handle for one of the first and second breakers from its OFF position to its ON position, the breaker switch handle for the other of the first and second breakers will be moved by the interlock member from its ON position to its OFF position, before the breaker switch handle of the one of the first and second breakers attains its ON position. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an electrical system having a plurality of electrical loads, the electrical system being normally supplied with electrical current from a utility power supply, the electrical system further having an on-demand auxiliary source of electrical current for supplying electrical current during periods when utility electrical current is unavailable, wherein the plurality of electrical loads comprises a first group of one or more mandatory electrical loads which must receive electrical current during periods of utility electrical current unavailability and a second group of one or more discretionary electrical loads to which excess auxiliary electrical current may be directed if available, an automatic transfer switch comprising:
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a switching apparatus disposed between the utility power supply and the auxiliary source of electrical current on one side, and the plurality of electrical loads on the other side, with the group of one or more discretionary loads being connected to the switching apparatus in descending order of priority as selected by an operator of the electrical system; a control apparatus, operably associated with the switching apparatus; the control apparatus having a learning mode and an operational mode, during said learning mode, the control apparatus monitors, in turn, each one of the group of one or more discretionary loads, to sense the current demand of each discretionary load, and storing, in memory, a value corresponding to a maximum current demand corresponding to each of the respective discretionary loads, if the sensed load falls within a preselected range stored in memory in the control apparatus and during said operational mode, the control apparatus monitors utility power source output, and transfers electrical input from the utility power source to the auxiliary power source, when the utility power source fails to meet preselected criteria; the control apparatus, having transferred electrical input to the auxiliary power source, subsequently selectively providing power simultaneously to the one or more discretionary loads, upon receiving demands for power from same, by successively bringing each of the one or more discretionary loads, which demand power, on line, in descending order of priority, whereupon if at any time, total demand on the auxiliary power source, comprising all mandatory loads demanding power and all discretionary loads demanding power, exceeds a predetermined maximum demand value stored in memory, the control module disconnects discretionary loads, beginning with lowest priority loads, until the total demand drops below the predetermined maximum demand value.
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11. In an electrical system normally supplied with electrical power from a utility source, the electrical system further having an automatic starting auxiliary electrical power source having a predetermined maximum capacity, a method for setting up distribution of auxiliary electrical power amongst a plurality of loads, comprising the steps of:
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providing a switching apparatus disposed between the source of electrical power and at least two electrical loads wherein at least one of the electrical loads is a mandatory load and at least one of the electrical loads is a discretionary load, and configured to be able to bring the source of electrical power selectively into electrical contact with any combination of the at least two electrical loads; providing a controller, connected to the utility source, the auxiliary electrical power source, and each of the at least two electrical loads; providing the controller with memory for storing information regarding the electrical system, starting the auxiliary electrical power source and monitoring the output of the auxiliary electrical power source; setting each load on the electrical system to its maximum demand setting; interrupting electrical contact between the auxiliary electrical power source and each of the loads; connecting a first load on the electrical system, to the auxiliary electrical power source; causing the controller to sense in the electrical system the first connected and storing that value as an assigned maximum value of that first connected load in memory; disconnecting the first connected load from the auxiliary electrical power source, and successively connecting, sensing, storing and disconnecting each remaining load in the system to and from the auxiliary electrical power source, until all discretionary loads in the system have been connected, and their maximum load values sensed. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for distribution of electrical power amongst a plurality of loads comprising:
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a source of electrical power, having a predetermined maximum capacity; at least two electrical loads, each electrical load having been assigned a predetermined priority value relative to the provision of electrical power from the source of electrical power; a switching device disposed between the source of electrical power and the at least two electrical loads, and configured to be able to bring the source of electrical power selectively into electrical contact with any combination of the at least two electrical loads; a controller, connected to the source of electrical power and each of the at least two electrical loads; the controller having memory therein containing as a stored value the predetermined maximum capacity of the source of electrical power; the controller having memory therein containing as stored values the predetermined priority values of the at least two electrical loads; the controller having memory therein containing as stored values the respective maximum load values of each of the at least two electrical loads, when each such electrical load is active; the controller being configured to cause the switching device to bring into electrical contact with the source of electrical power each successive electrical load active and calling for electrical power, in order of descending priority so long as the addition of each successive electrical load results in a total load less than a predetermined percentage of the predetermined maximum capacity of the source of electrical power, such that if the addition of a prospective successive lower priority load would cause the total load to equal or exceed the predetermined percentage, the prospective successive lower priority load would not be brought into communication, if at all, with the source of electrical power, until the total of the total of the loads already in contact with the source of electrical power and the prospective successive lower priority load is less than the predetermined percentage; and the controller further being configured, in the event that the total of the loads in contact with the source of electrical power exceeds the predetermined percentage for a continuous predetermined period of time, to successively disconnect the loads from the source of electrical power, beginning with the lowest priority load and continuing in ascending order, until the resulting total load is less than the predetermined percentage, and then reconnect, in descending order of priority, the next available load which results in a total load less than the predetermined percentage.
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Specification