Control apparatus for deactivating an electrical load during congestion periods

• US 7,409,270 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr AG (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr AG (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Schibli, Patrick Urs
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/507,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295,296
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A control apparatus (1) for controlling an electrical load (2) has a housing (28), a plug (12) mounted to the housing (28) for connecting the control apparatus (1) to the power outlet (4), a socket (10) mounted to the housing (28) for connecting the control apparatus (1) to the electrical load (2), and a receiver unit (6) mounted within the housing (28) and coupled to the plug (12) and the socket (10). In use, the receiver unit (6) receives a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period. Upon receipt of the control signal, the receiver unit (6) interrupts supply of power to the socket (10) and, hence, switches the electrical load (2) off.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling an electrical load, comprising:

a housing;

a plug mounted to the hosing for connecting the control apparatus to a power outlet;

a socket mounted to the housing for connecting the control apparatus to the electrical load;

first and second internal wires connecting the plug to the socket;

a first switch located in the second internal wire between the plug and the socket;

a ripple control receiver unit mounted within the housing and coupled to the wires connecting the plug and the socket, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period, and wherein the receiver unit is configured to interrupt supply of power to the socket upon receipt of the control signal by opening the first switch in the second internal wire; and

wherein the ripple control receiver has a relay coil connected to the first internal wire, and also connected to the first switch by a control line, a second switch connected to the relay coil and also to the second internal wire between the plug and the first switch, whereby the control receiver controls the second switch and the energization of the relay coil by activation or deactivation of the relay coil to thereby control opening or closing of the first switch.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an override switch selectively operable to enable supply of power to the socket following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator to signal whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal indicative of the congestion period.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a setup device to set operational parameters manually.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive the control signal over an electricity distribution network.

6. The control apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an override switch selectively operable to enable supply of power to the socket following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit, an indicator to signal whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal indicative of the congestion period, a setup device to set operational parameters manually, and wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive the control signal over an electricity distribution network.

7. A method of controlling an electrical load, comprising:

receiving, at a ripple control receiver mounted in a control apparatus, a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period, wherein the control apparatus comprises;

a housing;

a plug mounted to the housing for connecting the control apparatus to a power outlet;

a socket mounted to the housing for connecting the control apparatus to the electrical load;

first and second internal wires connecting the plug to the socket;

a first switch located in the second internal wire between the plug and the socket;

wherein the ripple control receiver unit is mounted within the control apparatus housing and coupled to the wires connecting the plug and the socket, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive the control signal that is indicative of the impending congestion period, and wherein the receiver unit is configured to interrupt supply of power to the socket upon receipt of the control signal by opening the first switch in the second internal wire; and

wherein the ripple control receiver has a relay coil connected to the first internal wire, and also connected to the first switch by a control line, a second switch connected to the relay coil and also to the second internal wire between the plug and the first switch, whereby the control receiver controls the second switch and the energization of the relay coil by activation or deactivation of the relay coil to thereby control opening or closing of the first switch.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising indicating whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising selectively enabling a supply of power to the socket by an override switch following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising setting operational parameters manually.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the control signal includes receiving an electrical signal over an electricity distribution network.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising indicating whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal, selectively enabling a supply of power to the socket by an override switch following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit, setting operational parameters manually, and receiving the control signal includes receiving an electrical signal over an electricity distribution network.