Shore power transfer switch

• US 8,085,002 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Inventors: Ayana, Elias, Peterson, Mitchell E., Marlenee, Alyssa
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US12/006,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 322/12, 322/44, 322/89, 322/20, 322/19, 322/17, 290/1.A, 290/8, 290/30.R, 290/31, 307/10.1, 307/19
• US Class Current: 322/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00364 for caravans or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting

Abstract

A vehicle includes a mobile electric power generation system including a mobile power source such as a generator. An external power interface is included to connect to an external electrical power source. An AC electric power distribution bus is included to power electric loads of the vehicle and a power switch device is provided to selectively provide AC electric power on the power distribution bus from one of the respective power sources with a default to select one of the sources whenever it is present.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a power switch device to selectively provide AC electric power on the power distribution bus from one of a local power source and an external power interface, including;

a first normally open contactor between the external power interface and the power distribution bus, a first switch, and a first contactor state control;

a second normally open contactor between an inverter and the power distribution bus, a second switch, and a second contactor state control;

an external power control circuit through the first switch and the first contactor state control, the external power control circuit having a default closed state when external power is available at the external power interface, the default closed state of the external power circuit providing electricity from the external power interface to the first contactor state control to close the first normally open contactor and correspondingly route the AC electric power to a power distribution bus from the external power interface; and

a local power control circuit through the second switch and the second contactor state control, the local power control circuit having a default open state when the external power circuit is in the default closed state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle carrying the local power source the external power interface, and the power distribution bus, the external power interface being removably connectable to the external power source to provide shore power to the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first normally closed contactor in the local power circuit and a second normally closed contactor in the external power circuit, the first normally closed contactor changing state in response to the first contactor state control to be open when the first normally open contactor is closed, and the second normally closed contactor changing state in response to the second contactor state control to be closed when the second normally open contactor is closed.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first contactor state control includes a first electromagnetic coil responsive to the external power circuit, the second contactor state control includes a second electromagnetic coil responsive to the local power circuit, the first switch is a normally closed type, and the second switch is a normally open type.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controller, the controller including means for detecting poor power quality from the external power interface and the normally closed switch is responsive to the detecting means to change the first switch to an open state to put the external power circuit in an open state.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second switch is responsive to the controller to close when the external power control circuit is in the open state and electricity from the local power source is available.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first contactor state control includes a first electromagnetic coil responsive to the external power circuit, the second contactor state control includes a second electromagnetic coil responsive to the local power circuit, the first switch is a normally closed relay mechanism responsive to the controller and the second switch is a normally open relay mechanism responsive to the controller.