Power shedding device and method

• US 8,847,440 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwin Lee Lyda
• Original Assignee: Edwin Lee Lyda
• Inventors: Lyda, Edwin Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/944,792
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 307/115, 200/330, 700/295
• US Class Current: 307/115
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• 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: Y02P 80/14 District level solutions, i.e. local energy networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A remote-controllable circuit breaker (RCB) is provided for use with a main breaker that permits a user to stop power from being delivered to selected non-critical loads by remotely operating a small motor within one or more RCBs to turn the RCBs off. The user can be the consumer himself, or, if remote access to the RCB has been granted by the consumer, the user can be a retail energy supplier or the consumer'"'"'s utility company. The RCB'"'"'s can be installed in the main circuit breaker box, or they can be installed in a subpanel. A communications module with a power supply and a relay operates to change the polarity of the d.c. voltage on an RCB'"'"'s motor to switch power to a load off or on. The communications module receives input from any standard communications network, such as internet protocol, wi-fi or wi-max.

Claims

1. A system that allows an entity to shed power loads using a meter, a main circuit breaker, and a breaker panel, the system further comprising:

(a) at least one remote-controllable breaker comprising a low-voltage motor within the breaker, switch contacts, and a main switch;

(b) a communications module having a power supply and a relay;

(c) wiring for connecting the communications module to the remote-controllable breaker;

(d) a communications system that is remotely activated by the entity to switch the relay in the communications module to change polarity of the motor'"'"'s voltage,

the remote-controllable breaker controlling delivery of electricity to a load.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications system is selected from the group consisting of Internet Protocol, wi-fi, and wi-max.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote-controllable breaker controls delivery of electricity to the load without having any relay disposed between the remote-controllable breaker and the load.

4. The system of claim 1 which further comprises at least one circuit breaker that cannot be controlled remotely, the circuit breaker installed on the breaker panel.

8. A method that allows an entity to shed power loads utilizing the system of claim 1, the method comprising

having the entity remotely switch the relay in the communications module to change polarity of the motor'"'"'s voltage, thereby controlling delivery of electricity to the load, whereby when the motor within the remote-controllable breaker is switched off, no electricity can be delivered to the load.

9. The method of claim 8 which uses a communications system selected from the group consisting of Internet Protocol, wi-fi, and wi-max.

5. A system that allows an entity to shed power loads using a meter, a main circuit breaker, and a breaker panel having circuit breakers that cannot be controlled remotely, the system further comprising a subpanel having the following:

(a) at least one remote-controllable breaker comprising a low-voltage motor within the breaker, switch contacts, and a main switch

(b) a communications module having a power supply and a relay;

(c) wiring for connecting the communications module to the remote-controllable breaker;

(d) a communications system that is remotely activated by the entity to switch the relay in the communications module to change polarity of the motor'"'"'s voltage,

the remote-controllable breaker controlling delivery of electricity to a load.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the communications system is selected from the group consisting of Internet Protocol, wi-fi, and wi-max.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the remote-controllable breaker controls delivery of electricity to the load without having any relay disposed between the remote-controllable breaker and the load.