Intelligent power distribution management for an on-board galley of a transport vehicle such as an aircraft
First Claim
1. An on-board galley arrangement in a passenger transport aircraft, comprising:
- an electrical power source;
electrical power consuming devices installed in a galley of the aircraft;
a power distribution network connecting said electrical power source to said power consuming devices;
a control unit;
a databus connected to said control unit and to each one of said power consuming devices; and
a database that is connected to said control unit and that stores a catalog of power management measures;
wherein said control unit is adapted to compare an actual power consumption of a single one or a group or all of said power consuming devices to a prescribed maximum power consumption value, and if said actual power consumption reaches or exceeds said maximum power consumption value, to call up one or more of said power management measures of said catalog stored in said database and to transmit via said databus at least one control command corresponding to and dependent on said one or more power management measures to one or more of said power consuming devices that are identified individually by an address code; and
wherein each one of said power consuming devices respectively includes an information transducer arrangement that is adapted to transmit status information regarding an operating status of the respective said power consuming device via said databus to said control unit, which is adapted to store said status information in a status report for the respective said power consuming device in said database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an aircraft galley, a power network distributes power from a source to electrical consuming devices (oven, water boiler, coffee machine, trash compactor, etc.). A control unit is connected to and can individually address each of the devices via a databus. The control unit compares the actual existing power consumption to a prescribed maximum value. If the actual consumption reaches the maximum value, the control unit calls up a power reduction procedure from a catalog in a database, and provides corresponding control signals to one or more of the devices to reduce the power consumption below the maximum value. The individual devices receive power in a time-sharing, power-sharing, or time-staggered manner. An intelligent distribution of available power resources avoids power overloads, and allows optimal utilization of all galley devices without limiting the normal catering process.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An on-board galley arrangement in a passenger transport aircraft, comprising:
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an electrical power source; electrical power consuming devices installed in a galley of the aircraft; a power distribution network connecting said electrical power source to said power consuming devices; a control unit; a databus connected to said control unit and to each one of said power consuming devices; and a database that is connected to said control unit and that stores a catalog of power management measures; wherein said control unit is adapted to compare an actual power consumption of a single one or a group or all of said power consuming devices to a prescribed maximum power consumption value, and if said actual power consumption reaches or exceeds said maximum power consumption value, to call up one or more of said power management measures of said catalog stored in said database and to transmit via said databus at least one control command corresponding to and dependent on said one or more power management measures to one or more of said power consuming devices that are identified individually by an address code; and wherein each one of said power consuming devices respectively includes an information transducer arrangement that is adapted to transmit status information regarding an operating status of the respective said power consuming device via said databus to said control unit, which is adapted to store said status information in a status report for the respective said power consuming device in said database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical power consuming devices, comprising the steps:
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a) storing a catalog of power management measures in a database; b) providing a predetermined maximum current consumption value; c) measuring an actual current consumption value of one or more of said power consuming devices; d) comparing said actual current consumption value to said maximum current consumption value; e) if said comparing in said step d) determines that said actual current consumption value equals or exceeds said maximum current consumption value, then calling up at least one of said power management measures from said catalog, and issuing at least one control command corresponding to and dependent on said at least one of said power management measures; f) transmitting and providing said at least one control command via a databus to a selected one or selected group of said power consuming devices; g) in response to and dependent on said at least one control command, either switching-on a supply of power to, or switching-off a supply of power to, or reducing a power consumption of, said selected one or said selected group of said power consuming devices; h) transmitting on said databus from a respective one of said power consuming devices, status information regarding an operating status of said respective power consuming device; and i) storing said status information in a status report for said respective power consuming device in said database. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification