Apparatus and method for managing power to an airport passenger bridge and a battery charger

• US 7,573,228 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (Intertek Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (Intertek Group PLC)
• Inventors: Karner, Donald Bruce, Morrow, Kevin Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US11/158,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/114
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for managing input power between a passenger bridge and a battery charger includes a power distributor, a current monitor and a controller. The power distributor receives input power and outputs power to the passenger bridge and the battery charger. The current monitor measures current drawn by the passenger bridge and the battery charger to provide a signal to the controller indicative of the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger. The controller adjusts the output power setting of the battery charger in response to the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger by reading the output power of the battery charger, comparing the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger to a predetermined operating threshold to determine whether an overthreshold condition exists, and modulating the battery charger output power setting in response to the overthreshold condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing input power between a passenger bridge and a battery charger having a controllable output power setting, the apparatus comprising:

a power distributor having an input for receiving input power, a bridge power output for coupling to a power input of the passenger bridge and a charger output for coupling to a power input of the battery charger;

and a controller configured to adjust the output power setting of the battery charger in response to the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a current monitor configured to measure current drawn by the passenger bridge and the battery charger and coupled to the controller to provide a signal indicative of the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to:

read the output power of the battery charger;

compare the power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger to a predetermined operating threshold to determine whether an overthreshold condition exists; and

modulate the battery charger output power setting in response to the determination whether an overthreshold condition exists.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit modulation of the battery charger output power setting in response to transient power spikes.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit modulation of the battery charger output power setting to prevent damage to the battery charge.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is coupled to the battery charger via a serial communications link.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the communications link comprises a CANbus communications link.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery charger is configured to charge ground support equipment.

9. An apparatus for managing input power between a first load and a battery charger having a charging output power setting that varies in response to a control input, comprising:

a power distributor having an input for receiving input power, a first power output for coupling to a power input of the first load and a charger output for coupling to a power input of the battery charger; and

a controller configured to vary the charging output power setting of the battery charger by providing a control input signal to the battery charger in response to the power consumption of the first load.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first load comprises a passenger bridge.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the battery charger is configured to charge ground support equipment.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to:

read the output power of the battery charger;

compare the power consumption of the first load and the battery charger to a predetermined operating threshold to determine whether an overthreshold condition exists; and

modulate the battery charger output power setting in response to the determination whether an overthreshold condition exists.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit modulation of the battery charger output power setting in response to transient power spikes.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit modulation of the battery charger output power setting that may damage the battery charger.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is coupled to the battery charger via a serial communications link.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the communications link comprises a CANbus communications link.

17. A method for managing input power between a passenger bridge and a battery charger having a controllable output power level, the method comprising:

taking a measurement indicative of power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger;

using the measurement indicative of power consumption of the passenger bridge to vary the output power level of the battery charger.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of taking a measurement indicative of power consumption of the passenger bridge and the battery charger comprises measuring the current drawn by the passenger bridge and the battery charger.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of using the measurement indicative of power consumption comprises:

reading the output power of the battery charger;

comparing the power consumption of the first load and the battery charger to a predetermined operating threshold to determine whether an overthreshold condition exists; and

modulating the battery charger output power setting in response to the determination whether an overthreshold condition exists.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of modulating the battery charger comprises adjusting the battery charger output setting to one of a plurality of output power setting levels.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing an overthreshold signal indicative of whether an overthreshold condition exists and integrating the overthreshold signal.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of modulating the battery charger output power setting comprises using the integrated overthreshold signal to adjust the battery charger output setting.