Power supply system including panel with safety release

• US 9,093,788 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safeconnect Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Great Dane, Inc.
• Inventors: Lamb, Scott D
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US14/320,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 439/35, 439/258, 439/152, 439/923, 439/474, 439/352, 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

A power supply system for use with a power source. The system includes one or more power supply connections and an optional configuration with one or more remote control panels spaced from a safety circuit panel. The safety circuit panel includes a safety circuit. The system further includes a power cable with a safety ejector subsystem. The safety ejector subsystem includes a latch connected to the wall receptacle connector of the power cable and a tension line connected to the latch and to the power cable. When the power cable is placed in tension, such as when the power cable has not been disconnected from the wall receptacle in the ordinary way, the safety ejector subsystem forces the disconnection of the power cable from a plug, thereby ensuring that no live wiring is exposed to the environment.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

a. a circuit panel arranged for connection to a power grid;

b. one or more remote panels connected to the circuit panel, wherein each of the one or more remote panels includes a stop and a start button and

c. one or more power cords for each remote panel, each power cord having a first end and a second end, wherein each first end is engaged with the power grid and each second end includes one or more pinhole faces with a plurality of pinholes, wherein the plurality of pinholes for each of the one or more power cords is configured for releasable engagement with a plurality of pins of a pin power plug,

wherein each pin power plug is connectable to a device to be powered,

wherein each of the one or more power cords is arranged to transfer power to the pin power plug only when the pins of the pin power plug and the pinholes of the power cord are aligned and engaged with one another,

wherein a first portion of the plurality of pinholes of the power cord is arranged to supply current from the power grid to each of the one or more power cords when aligned and engaged with a first portion of the plurality of pins of the pin power plug,

wherein a second portion of the plurality of pinholes of each of the one or more power cords is arranged to supply current from the corresponding power cord to the corresponding device when aligned and engaged with a second portion of the plurality of pins of the power plugs,

wherein the circuit panel includes a safety circuit for each remote panel arranged to prevent current from the power grid to one or more of the power cords unless;

     1) the first and second portions of the plurality of pinholes and the plurality of pins are aligned and engaged with one another; and

     2) contacts of the safety circuit are moved from an open to an engaged position and the start button of the remote panel has been pushed, and

wherein each power cord includes a safety ejection subsystem configured to cause disconnection of the second end of each power cord from the corresponding pin power plug when the two are connected together under tension loading of the connected power cord.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pinhole face has six pinholes and the pin power plug has six pins that are arranged fir alignment and connection with the six pinholes of the power cord.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the safety circuit include one or more sensors arranged to sense a lack of contact between at least one of the plurality of pins and a corresponding one of the plurality of pinholes of either the first portion or the second portion and to block current from the power grid to the power cord when the lack of contact is sensed.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors is a voltage meter connect across one or more wires of each power cord and one or more of the pins or pinholes or a current meter in line with one or more wires of each power cord.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the safety ejection subsystem includes a latch connected to a housing of the second end of each power cord and a tension line connected to the latch and to each power cord.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tension line and the latch are made of steel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second end of each power cord includes a sealing cover.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sealing cover is hinged.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each remote panel is separate from the circuit panel and affixed to a convenient area for use.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each remote panel is connected via hardwire to the circuit panel.

11. A power supply system comprising:

a. a circuit panel arranged for connection to a power grid;

b. one or more remote panels connected to the circuit panel, wherein each of the one or more remote panels includes a stop and start button and a wall receptacle with a pinhole face and a plurality of pinholes; and

c. one or more power cords for each remote panel, each power cord having a first end and a second end, wherein each first end includes a plurality of pins for releasable engagement with the plurality of pinholes of the wall receptacle of the remote panel,

wherein each second end of the power cord is connectable to a device to be powered,

wherein the pinhole face of the wall receptacle and the first end of each power cord are arranged to transfer power only when the plurality of pins of the power cord and the plurality of pinholes of the receptacle are aligned and engaged with one another,

wherein each power cord is arranged to transfer power to the device only when the plurality of pins of the power cord and the plurality of pinholes of the wall receptacle are aligned and engaged with one another,

wherein a first portion of the plurality of pins of the power cord is arranged to receive current when aligned and engaged with a first portion of the plurality of pinholes of the wall receptacle,

wherein a second portion of the plurality of pins of the power cord is arranged to supply current to the corresponding device when aligned and engaged with a second portion of the plurality of pinholes of the wall receptacle,

wherein the circuit panel includes a safety circuit for each remote panel arranged to prevent current from the power grid to one or more of the power cords unless;

     1) the first and second portions of the plurality of pinholes and the plurality of pins are aligned and engaged with one another, and

     2) contacts of the safety circuit are moved from an open to an engaged position and the start button of the remote panel has been pushed, and

wherein each power cord includes a safety ejection subsystem configured to cause disconnection of the second end of each power cord from the corresponding pin power plug when the two are connected together under tension loading of the connected power cord.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pinhole face of the receptacle has six pinholes and the power cord has six pins that are arranged for alignment and connection with the six pinholes of the receptacle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the safety circuit(s) includes one or more sensors arranged to sense a lack of contact between at least one of the plurality of pins and a corresponding one of the plurality of pinholes of either the first portion or the second portion and to block current from the power grid to the power cord when the lack of contact is sensed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors is a voltage meter connect across one or more wires of each power cord and one or more of the pins or pinholes or a current meter in line with one or more wires of each power cord.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the safety ejection subsystem includes a latch connected to a housing of the first end of each power cord and a tension line connected to the latch and to each power cord.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tension line and the latch are made of steel.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first end of each power cord includes a sealing cover.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sealing cover is hinged.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein each remote panel is separate from the circuit panel and affixed to a convenient area for use.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each remote panel is connected via hardwire to the circuit panel.