Paralelling of two transfer switches

• US 9,281,715 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Lim, Sie Teong, Hurd, Robert J. Sr., Stair, Kenny J., Batzler, Brandon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/044,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20140042809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 307/42, 307/38, 307/64
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/24 Circuit arrangements for boards or switchyards
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/04 in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A backup power management system connectable to a primary power source and a secondary power source, and a method of operating the same. The system includes an enclosed housing that receives a control system including first and second controllers that are connected to a first transfer switch contactor and a second transfer switch contactor within the housing. Both the primary power source and a secondary power source are broken into two separate output supplies. The two separate output supplies from the primary power source and the secondary power source are each provided to one of the first and second transfer switch contactors. The control system sends signals to the first and second transfer switch contactors to control the movement of the contactors between first and second positions. The power management system can also include a load management controller to control the load on the secondary power source.

Claims

1. A self-contained transfer switch for use in a backup power management system including a primary power source, a primary power splitter that receives power from the primary power source and divides the power into a first primary output and a second primary output, a secondary power source, first and second distribution panels and a plurality of loads, comprising:

an enclosed housing;

a secondary power splitter contained in the housing that receives power from the secondary power source and divides the power into a first secondary output and a second secondary output;

a first transfer switch contactor contained in the housing that receives the first primary output and the first secondary output, wherein the first transfer switch contactor is movable between a first position in Which the first primary output is provided to the first distribution panel and a second position in which the first secondary output is provided to the first distribution panel;

a second transfer switch contactor contained in the housing that receives the second primary output and the second secondary output, wherein the second transfer switch contactor is movable between a first position in which the second primary output is provided to the second distribution panel and a second position in which the second secondary output is provided to the second distribution panel;

a first controller contained in the housing and connected to the first transfer switch contactors, wherein the first controller controls the movement of the first transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions; and

a second controller contained in the housing and connected to the second transfer switch contactors, wherein the second controller controls the movement of the second transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions,

wherein the first and second controllers communicate with each other to coordinate the movement of the first and second transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions.

2. The transfer switch of claim 1 further comprising a secondary power circuit breaker positioned between the secondary power source and the secondary power splitter.

3. The transfer switch of claim 2 wherein the secondary power circuit breaker is contained within the housing.

4. The transfer switch of claim 1 further comprising a first primary circuit breaker positioned between the primary power splitter and the first transfer switch contactor and a second primary circuit breaker positioned between the primary power splitter and the second transfer switch contactor.

5. The transfer switch of claim 4 wherein the first and second primary circuit breakers are located within the housing.

6. The transfer switch of claim 1 wherein the first and second controllers communicate with each other such that the first and second transfer switch contactors move between the first and second positions together.

7. The transfer switch of claim 1 further comprising a load management controller contained in the housing, wherein the load management controller is operable to control the supply of power to the plurality of loads to limit the power draw on the secondary power source.

8. A backup power management system connectable to a utility power source having a primary power splitter that divides the utility power source into a first primary output and a second primary output and provides power to a plurality of loads through a first distribution panel and a second distribution panel, the backup power management system comprising:

a backup generator;

a transfer switch having an enclosed housing;

a secondary power splitter that receives power from the backup generator and divides the power into a first secondary output and a second secondary output;

a first transfer switch contactor contained in the housing and connected to the primary power splitter to receive the first primary output and connected to the secondary power splitter to receive the first secondary output, wherein the first transfer switch contactor is movable between a first position in which the first primary output is provided to the first distribution panel and a second position in which the first secondary output is provided to the first distribution panel;

a second transfer switch contactor contained in the housing and connected to the primary power splitter to receive the second primary output and connected to the secondary power splitter to receive the second secondary output, wherein the second transfer switch contactor is movable between a first position in which the second primary output is provided to the second distribution panel and a second position in which the second secondary output is provided to the second distribution panel;

a first controller contained in the housing and connected to the first transfer switch contactors, wherein the first controller controls the movement of the first transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions; and

a second controller contained in the housing and connected to the second transfer switch contactors, wherein the Second controller controls the movement of the second transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions,

wherein the first and second controllers communicate with each other to coordinate the movement of the first and second transfer switch contactors between the first and second positions.

9. The backup power arrangement of claim 8 further comprising a secondary power circuit breaker positioned between the secondary power source and the secondary power splitter.

10. The backup power arrangement of claim 9 wherein the secondary power circuit breaker is contained within the housing.

11. The backup power arrangement of claim 8 further comprising a first primary circuit breaker positioned between the primary power splitter and the first transfer switch contactor and a second primary circuit breaker positioned between the primary power splitter and the second transfer switch contactor.

12. The backup power arrangement of claim 11 wherein the first and second primary circuit breakers are located within the housing.

13. The backup power arrangement of claim 8 wherein the first and second controllers communicate with each other such that the first and second transfer switch contactors move between the first and second positions together.

14. The backup power arrangement of claim 8 further comprising a load management controller contained in the housing, wherein the load management controller is operable to control the supply of power to the plurality of loads to limit the power draw on the secondary power source.

15. A method of operating a power management system that provides power from a primary power source and a secondary power source to a plurality of loads through at least one distribution panel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a transfer switch having an enclosed housing including both a first controller and a second controller contained within the housing;

dividing the primary power source into first and second primary outputs;

dividing the secondary power source into first and second secondary power outputs;

generating a control signal from the first controller to the first transfer switch contactor to move the first transfer switch contactor from a first position to a second position upon loss of the primary power source;

generating a signal from the second controller to the second transfer switch contactor to move the second transfer switch contactor from a first position to a second position upon loss of the primary power source;

generating a signal from the first controller to the first transfer switch contactor to move the first transfer switch contactor from the second position to the first position upon return of the primary power source;

generating a signal from the second controller to the second transfer switch contactor to move the second transfer switch contactor from the second position to the first position upon return of the primary power source; and

communicating between the first and second controllers such that the first and second transfer switch contactors move between the first and second positions together.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second primary outputs are supplied to the at least one distribution panel through the first and second transfer switch contactors when the first and second transfer switch contactors are in the first position.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second secondary power outputs are supplied to the at least one distribution panel through the first and second transfer switch contactors when the first and second transfer switch contactors are in the second position.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

positioning a circuit breaker between the primary power source and the first and second transfer switch contactors; and

positioning a circuit breaker between the secondary power source and the first and second transfer switch contactors.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second primary outputs are supplied to a first distribution panel and a second distribution panel when the first and second transfer switch contactors are in the first position and the first and second secondary outputs are supplied to the first and second distribution panels when the first and second transfer switch contactors are in the second position.