Status monitoring cables for generators

• US 9,234,916 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpha Technologies Services, Inc. (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Technologies Incorporated (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Peck, Tobias M., Carpenter, Jonathan D., Thompson, Donald L., Foster, Mike L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Khristopher
• Application Number:
  US13/831,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 324/126, 361/679.01, 361600-601, 361/641, 361/668, 361/639, 361/648, 439512-513, 439600-675, 307 64- 66, 307 85- 87, 323258-259, 702/63, 702/183, 369/679.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/20 Modifications of basic electric elements for use in electric measuring instruments; Structural combinations of such elements with such instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/145 Indicating the presence of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators

Abstract

A connector system comprising a status monitoring cable system comprising a first cable connector adapted to be connected to a generator connector, a second cable connector adapted to be connected to a UPS connector, a third cable connector adapted to be connected to the modem connector, a jumper, first and second power conductors connected between the first cable connector and the second cable connector, and a sensor module comprising a current detect module and a connector detect module. The current detect module transmits a GEN_ON signal to the modem when a current is present in at least one of the first and second power conductors. The connector detect module transmits a GEN_PRESENT signal to the modem when a current flows through the first cable connector, the generator connector, the jumper, the generator connector, and the first cable connector.

Claims

1. A connector system adapted to be connected to a generator, a UPS system, and a modem, the connector system comprising:

a generator connector operatively connected to the generator;

a UPS connector operatively connected to the UPS system;

a modem connector operatively connected to the modem; and

a status monitoring cable system comprising

a first cable connector adapted to be connected to the generator connector;

a second cable connector adapted to be connected to the UPS connector;

a third cable connector adapted to be connected to the modem connector,

a jumper,

first and second power conductors connected between the first cable connector and the second cable connector, and

a sensor module comprising

a current detect module

coupled to at least one of the first and second power conductors, and

operatively connected to the third cable connector, and

a connector detect module operatively connected to

the first cable connector, and

the third cable connector;

wherein

the jumper is supported relative to the generator connector;

the current detect module transmits a GEN_ON signal to the modem when a current is present in at least one of the first and second power conductors; and

the connector detect module transmits a GEN_PRESENT signal to the modem when a current flows through the first cable connector, the generator connector, the jumper, the generator connector, and the first cable connector.

2. A connector system as recited in claim 1, in which the sensor module further comprises a power supply module operatively connected to the third cable connector, the current detect module, and the connector detect module, where the power supply module:

obtains power from the modem; and

provides power to the current detect module and the connector detect module.

3. A connector system as recited in claim 1, in which the current detect module comprises a current sensor operatively connected to one of the first and second power conductors.

4. A connector system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

first and second status conductors operatively connected between the first cable connector and the sensor module;

wherein

the current detect module and the connector detect module are located adjacent to a generator enclosure containing the UPS system; and

the first and second power conductors and the first and second status conductors form a cable bundle that extends between the generator enclosure and the first cable connector.

5. A connector system as recited in claim 1, in which:

the generator connector comprises a generator connector housing; and

the jumper is located within the generator connector housing.

6. A connector system as recited in claim 1, in which:

the generator comprises a generator enclosure; and

the jumper is attached to the generator enclosure.

7. A connector system as recited in claim 1, in which:

the generator comprises a generator enclosure; and

the jumper formed by a conductive surface on the generator enclosure.

8. A method of connecting a generator, a UPS system, and a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting a generator connector to the generator;

operatively connecting a UPS connector to the UPS system;

operatively connecting a modem connector to the modem; and

providing a first cable connector adapted to be connected to the generator connector;

providing a second cable connector adapted to be connected to the UPS connector;

providing a third cable connector adapted to be connected to the modem connector,

connecting first and second power conductors connected between the first cable connector and the second cable connector, and

coupling a current detect module to at least one of the first and second power conductors;

operatively connecting the current detect module to the third cable connector;

operatively connecting a connector detect module to the first cable connector and the third cable connector;

supporting a jumper relative to the generator connector;

causing the current detect module to transmit a GEN_ON signal to the modem when a current is present in at least one of the first and second power conductors; and

causing the connector detect module to transmit a GEN_PRESENT signal to the modem when a current flows through the first cable connector, the generator connector, the jumper, the generator connector, and the first cable connector.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting a power supply module to the third cable connector, the current detect module, and the connector detect module; and

operating the power supply module to obtain power from the modem and provide to the current detect module and the connector detect module.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of forming the current detect module by operatively connecting a current sensor to one of the first and second power conductors.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting first and second status conductors between the first cable connector and the sensor module;

locating the current detect module and the connector detect module adjacent to a generator enclosure containing the UPS system; and

forming a cable bundle comprising the first and second power conductors and the first and second status conductors, where the cable bundle extends between the generator enclosure and the first cable connector.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, in which:

the step of providing the generator connector comprises the step of providing a generator connector housing; and

the step of supporting the jumper relative to the generator connector comprises the step of locating the jumper within the generator connector housing.

13. A method as recited in claim 8, in which:

the step of providing the generator comprises the step of providing a generator enclosure; and

the step of supporting the jumper relative to the generator connector comprises the step of attaching the jumper to the generator connector housing.

14. A method as recited in claim 8, in which:

the step of providing the generator comprises the step of providing a generator enclosure; and

the step of supporting the jumper relative to the generator connector comprises the step of forming a conductive surface on the generator enclosure.

15. A cable assembly adapted to be connected to a generator, a UPS system, and a modem, the connector system comprising:

a generator connector comprising

a first generator contact,

a second generator contact,

a third generator contact, and

a fourth generator contact, where

the first and second generator contacts are operatively connected to the generator;

a UPS connector comprising

a first UPS contact, and

a second UPS contact, where

the first and second UPS contacts are operatively connected to the UPS system;

a modem connector comprising

a first modem contact, and

a second modem contact, where

the first and second modem contacts are operatively connected to the modem; and

a status monitoring cable system comprising

a first cable connector comprising

a first cable connector first contact,

a first cable connector second contact,

a first cable connector third contact, and

a first cable connector fourth contact,

a second cable connector comprising

a second cable connector first contact, and

a second cable connector second contact,

a third cable connector comprising

a modem connector first contact, and

a modem connector second contact,

a jumper,

a first power conductor connected between the first cable connector first contact and the second cable connector first contact,

a second power conductor connected between the first cable connector second contact and the second cable connector second contact, and

a sensor module comprising

a current detect module

coupled to at least one of the first and second power conductors, and

operatively connected to the modem connector first contact, and

a connector detect module operatively connected to

the first cable connector third contact,

the first cable connector fourth contact, and

the modem connector second contact;

wherein

the jumper is connected between the third and fourth generator contacts,

the current detect module transmits a GEN_ON signal to the modem when a current is present in at least one of the first and second power conductors; and

the connector detect module transmits a GEN_PRESENT signal to the modem when a current flows through the first cable connector third contact, the third generator contact, the jumper, the fourth generator contact, and the first cable connector fourth contact.

16. A connector system as recited in claim 15, in which the sensor module further comprises a power supply module operatively connected to the third cable connector, the current detect module, and the connector detect module, where the power supply module:

obtains power from the modem; and

provides power to the current detect module and the connector detect module.

17. A connector system as recited in claim 15, in which the current detect module comprises a current sensor operatively connected to one of the first and second power conductors.

18. A connector system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

first and second status conductors operatively connected between the first cable connector and the sensor module;

wherein

the current detect module and the connector detect module are located adjacent to a generator enclosure containing the UPS system; and

the first and second power conductors and the first and second status conductors form a cable bundle that extends between the generator enclosure and the first cable connector.

19. A connector system as recited in claim 15, in which:

the generator connector comprises a generator connector housing; and

the jumper is located within the generator connector housing.

20. A connector system as recited in claim 15, in which:

the generator comprises a generator enclosure; and

the jumper is attached to the generator enclosure.

21. A connector system as recited in claim 15, in which:

the generator comprises a generator enclosure; and

the jumper formed by a conductive surface on the generator enclosure.