Electronically switched power receptacle

• US 5,498,915 A
• Filed: 06/13/1991
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crane, Burke J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRISHNAN, ADITYA
• Application Number:
  US07/714,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29, 307/38, 307/139, 307/141.4, 307/143, 307/75, 307/85, 307/86, 307/115, 307/147, 307/148, 323/258, 323/263, 323/343
• US Class Current: 307/139
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/26 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/50 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks

Abstract

A power switching circuit selectively connects an electrical load having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. Each branch circuit includes a first and second conductor defining a relative voltage therebetween. The power switching circuit includes a selector switch for selecting which of the branch circuits is to be connected to the load. A triac is electrically connected to the first conductor of each branch circuit and to the first input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the first conductors to the first input connection. A triac is electrically connected to the second conductor of each branch circuit and to the second input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the second conductors to the second input connection. A control is operated by the selector switch for controlling the triacs to connect the respective first and second conductors of the selected branch circuit to the first and second input connections of the load.

Claims

1. A power switching circuit for selectively connecting an electrical load having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits, each branch circuit including a first and a second conductor defining a voltage difference therebetween, comprising:

actuating means for selecting which of said branch circuits is to be connected to said load;

first switch means electrically connected to the first conductor of each branch circuit and to said first input connection of said load for selectively electrically connecting one of said first conductors to said first input connection;

second switch means electrically connected to the second conductor of each branch circuit and to said second input connection of said load for selectively electrically connecting one of said second conductors to said second input connection; and

control means operated by said actuating means for controlling said first switch means and said second switch means to connect the respective first and second conductor of the selected branch circuit to said load first and second input connections.

2. The power switching circuit of claim 1 wherein each said first and said second switch means comprises a plurality of switching triacs, one for each branch circuit.

3. The power switching circuit of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of optically driven triacs, one for each said switching triac.

4. The power switching circuit of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a manually operated selector switch.

5. The power switching circuit of claim 1 wherein said control means is electrically powered by one of said branch circuits.

6. A power switching circuit for selectively connecting an electrical load having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits, each branch circuit including a first and a second conductor defining a voltage difference therebetween, comprising:

actuating means for selecting which of said branch circuits is to be connected to said load;

a plurality of electrically controlled switches each connected between the first conductor of one said branch circuit and to said first input connection of said load each for selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the first conductor connected thereto to said first input connection;

a plurality of electrically controlled switches each connected between the second conductor of one said branch circuit and to said second input connection of said load each for selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the second conductor connected thereto to said second input connection; and

control means operated by said actuating means for controlling said electrically controlled switches to connect the respective first and second conductor of the selected branch circuit to said load first and second input connections.

7. The power switching circuit of claim 6 wherein each said first and said second electrically controlled switches comprise a switching triac.

8. The power switching circuit of claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of optically driven triacs, one for each said switching triac.

9. The power switching circuit of claim 6 wherein said actuating means comprises a manually operated selector switch.

10. The power switching circuit of claim 6 wherein said control means is electrically powered by one of said branch circuits.

13. The power switching circuit of claim 10 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of optically driven triacs, one for each said switching triac.

14. The power switching circuit of claim 10 wherein said actuating means comprises a manually operated selector switch.

11. A power switching circuit for selectively connecting an electrical outlet receptacle having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits, each branch circuit including a first and a second conductor defining a voltage difference therebetween, comprising:

an actuating switch for selecting which of said branch circuits is to be connected to said receptacle;

a plurality of electrically controlled switches each connected between the first conductor of one said branch circuit and to said first input connection of said receptacle each for selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the first conductor connected thereto to said first input connection;

a plurality of electrically controlled switches each connected between the second conductor of one said branch circuit and to said second input connection of said receptacle each for selectively electrically connecting or disconnecting the second conductor connected thereto to said second input connection; and

control means operated by said actuating switch for controlling said electrically controlled switches to connect the respective first and second conductor of the selected branch circuit to said receptacle first and second input connections.

12. The power switching circuit of claim 11 wherein each said first and said second electrically controlled switches comprise a switching triac.