Load distribution and management system

• US 6,046,513 A
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corporation (Astronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prime Technology Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Jouper, Jeffrey, Nellis, Susan, Hambley, Darrell T., Peabody, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/977,357
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 307/31, 307/38, 307/34, 307/35, 307/39, 307/32, 304/492
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of managing and distributing power from a supply of limited power is described. A plurality of outlets are connect to a plurality of power units. As additional outlets are used, the invention measures the amount of power drawn by the outlets. Outlets are enabled if the amount of measured power is less than a maximum amount of power available. Additional outlets not currently in use are disabled if the amount of measured power is greater than the maximum amount of power available.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution system comprising:

an electrical power source;

a plurality of outlets for receiving power from said electrical power source, said plurality of outlets containing a display that indicates whether power is available; and

a power distribution circuit coupling said electrical power source to each of said plurality of outlets, said power distribution circuit comprising;

a plurality of power sensing circuits for monitoring an instantaneous total power load in said electrical power distribution system;

a power comparator, coupled to said plurality of power sensing circuits, for summing a total amount of electrical power instantaneously being drawn by said outlets and for comparing said sum to a predetermined maximum electrical power level;

a plurality of power available circuits, each coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power sensing circuits and coupled to said power comparator, for providing individual output signals; and

each of said plurality of outlets coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power available circuits and coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power sensing circuits, whereby each of said plurality of outlets is enabled by said corresponding one of said plurality of power available circuits when said predetermined maximum electrical power level has not been exceeded and each of said plurality of outlets not coupled to a power utilizing device are disabled when said predetermined maximum electrical power level has been exceeded.

2. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of power sensing circuits continuously monitor said instantaneous total power load.

3. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 1 wherein said power distribution circuit further comprises:

a maximum load circuit coupled to said power comparator for providing said predetermined maximum electrical power level.

4. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 1 wherein said power distribution circuit further comprises:

a master test circuit, connected to each of said plurality of outlets, for receiving status indications.

5. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 4, wherein said power distribution circuit further comprises:

a display connected to said master test circuit.

6. An electrical power distribution system comprising:

a plurality of outlets for supplying power to individual ones of power utilizing devices;

a power supply for supplying power to said plurality of outlets when a predetermined maximum electrical power level has not been exceeded; and

a power distribution circuit, being coupled to said power supply, for monitoring an instantaneous total load and disabling each of said plurality of outlets that are not supplying power to an individual one of said power utilizing devices when said predetermined maximum electrical power level has been exceeded.

7. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 6 wherein said power distribution circuit further comprises:

a plurality of power available circuits for providing a power available signal to ones of said plurality of outlets when said predetermined maximum electrical power level is not exceeded.

8. The electrical power distribution system as described in claim 6 wherein said power distribution circuit continuously monitors said instantaneous total load.

9. A method of power distribution comprising:

continuously monitoring an instantaneous total load generated by power utilizing devices coupled to selected ones of a plurality of outlets;

summing a total amount of electrical power instantaneously being drawn;

comparing said total amount of electrical power instantaneously being drawn to a predetermined maximum power level;

generating a power available signal that is a function of the total amount of electrical power instantaneously being drawn; and

enabling all of said plurality of outlets whenever sufficient power is available.

10. A method for distributing electrical power from a power source to a plurality of outlets coupled to said power source comprising:

sensing the total amount of power drawn by power utilizing devices coupled to selected ones of said plurality of outlets at a particular instant;

comparing the amount of power drawn by said plurality of outlets with a predetermined maximum power level; and

enabling all of said plurality of outlets whenever sufficient power is available from the power source.

11. The method for distributing power as described in claim 10 wherein said enabling step allocates power to ones of said plurality of outlets on a first come first served basis.

12. A power distribution method comprising:

measuring the total amount of electrical power being consumed by one or more power utilizing devices;

comparing the total consumed power to a predetermined maximum power threshold;

enabling power outlets coupled to said one or more power utilizing devices while the total consumed power is less than the predetermined maximum power threshold;

preventing additional power outlets from receiving power when the total consumed power exceeds the predetermined maximum power threshold; and

automatically enabling said additional power outlets when the total consumed power is less than the predetermined maximum power threshold.

13. A power distribution system comprising:

a power supply for supplying power;

at least one outlet coupled to a power utilizing device and receiving power from the power supply;

a power distribution circuit, coupled to the power supply and to each of said at least one outlets, for continuously monitoring power drawn by each of said at least one outlets, comparing the amount of power drawn by each of said at least one outlets to a first predetermined power threshold and comparing the sum of the power drawn by each of said at least one outlets to a second predetermined power threshold;

wherein the power distribution circuit enters a fault condition when either the first predetermined power threshold or the second predetermined power threshold is exceeded and only enables additional outlets when the first predetermined power threshold and the second predetermined power threshold are not exceeded.

14. A method of distributing power from a power supply to at least one outlet comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring the electrical power provided to each of said at least one outlets;

comparing the amount of power provided to each of said at least one outlets from the power supply to a first power level threshold;

summing the amount of power provided to each of the outlets;

comparing the sum to a second power level threshold; and

producing a fault condition signal if either the amount of power provided to each of said at least one outlets exceeds the first power level threshold or the sum of the power provided to each of said at least one outlets exceeds the second power level threshold; and

automatically enabling additional outlets only when neither power level threshold is exceeded.