Electric power distribution and load transfer system

• US RE33,087 E
• Filed: 01/20/1988
• Issued: 10/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradford, Michael P., Parkinson, Gerald W., Grant, Ross M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/146,057
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 361/86, 361/87, 361/88, 361/90, 361/91, 361/92, 361/93, 361/100, 361/101, 307/18, 307/23, 307/29, 307/28, 307/44, 307/45, 307/52, 307/60, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/70, 307/80, 307/81, 307/85, 307/86, 340/660, 340/661, 340/662, 340/663, 340/664
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 307/615 Substitute or emergency source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 307/62 Plural substitute sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 307/625 Storage battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 307/696 Selective or optional sources

Abstract

A power distribution system includes a plurality of power sources and load transfer units including transistors and diodes connected in series and leading to a common power output, each of the transistors being controller switchable subject to voltage levels of the respective input and output sides of said transistors, and the voltage and current level of said common power output. The system is part of an interconnection scheme in which all but one of the power sources is connected to a single load transfer unit, enabling the survival of at least a single power source with the failure of one of the load transfer units.

Claims

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

at least two switch means for controlling the application of power from a plurality of power sources.[.,.]. to a power output;

.[.at least two current means for preventing reverse power flow through respective ones of said plurality of switch means;

.]. and

processing means for providing control signals to operate said switch means, effective to switch respective ones of said power sources between on and off states with respect to said power output;

characterized by;

first voltage .[.detection.]. .Iadd.deriving .Iaddend.means for .[.detecting.]. .Iadd.deriving first voltage signals dependent on .Iaddend.the levels of first voltages at a first side of corresponding ones of said switch means;

first comparator means for comparing the .[.voltages detected.]. .Iadd.first voltage signals derived .Iaddend.by said first voltage .[.detection.]. .Iadd.deriving .Iaddend.means to selected upper and lower voltage thresholds and for providing a signal indication of an abnormal voltage condition to said processing means when any of said first .[.detected voltages are.]. .Iadd.voltage signals is .Iaddend.at a level not within the bounds of said upper and lower voltage thresholds, said processing means responding to said abnormal signal .[.indicator.]. .Iadd.indication .Iaddend.such that .Iadd.the .Iaddend.power sources are selectively switched .Iadd.off .Iaddend.with respect to said power output in view of any abnormal voltage conditions.

2. The system of claim 1, further characterized by:

second voltage .[.detection.]. .Iadd.deriving .Iaddend.means for .[.detecting.]. .Iadd.deriving second voltage signals dependent on .Iaddend.the levels of voltages at another side of corresponding ones of said .[.plurality of.]. switch means; and

second comparator means for comparing the .[.voltages detected.]. .Iadd.second voltage signals derived .Iaddend.by said second voltage .[.detection.]. .Iadd.deriving .Iaddend.means to at least a lower voltage threshold, and for providing indications of abnormal voltage conditions to said processing means.[.,.]. when any of said second .[.detected voltages.]. .Iadd.voltage signals .Iaddend.is at a level not above said lower voltage threshold. .Iadd.3. The system of claim 2, characterized in that said deriving means derives said second voltage signals from a region situated between the respective switch means and said power output..Iaddend. .Iadd.4. The system of claim 3, characterized by at least two reverse current flow preventing means each for preventing reverse power flow through a different one of said switch means, each of said reverse current flow preventing means being interposed between a different one of said regions and said power output..Iaddend. .Iadd.5. The system of claim 4, further characterized by means for detecting the voltage in said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an additional signal indicative of the thus detected voltage, and by means for supplying said additional signal to

3. said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The system of claim 5, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The system of claim 4, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The system of claim 1, and further characterized by at least two reverse current flow preventing means each for preventing reverse power flow through a different one of said switch means..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The system of claim 8, characterized in that each of said reverse current flow preventing means is interposed between a different one of said switch means and said power output..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The system of claim 8, further characterized by means for detecting the voltage in said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an additional signal indicative of the thus detected voltage, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend.

4. Iadd.11. The system of claim 10, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The system of claim 8, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet downstream of each of said reverse current flow preventing means and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The system of claim 1, further characterized by means for detecting the voltage in said power outlet and for generating an additional signal indicative of the thus detected voltage, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The system of claim 13, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The system of claim 1, further characterized by means for detecting the current flowing through said power outlet and for generating an auxiliary signal indicative of the thus detected current, and by means for supplying said additional signal to said processing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The system of claim 1, further characterized in that said processing means includes means for operating said switches in accordance with a predetermined protocol..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The system of claim 1, characterized in that said switch means, said processing means, said deriving means and said first comparator means together constitute a load transfer unit, and further characterized by at least one additional load transfer unit similar to said load transfer unit and connected to a different power output, each of said load transfer units being connected to less than all of said power sources..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The system of claim 17, characterized in that each of said load transfer units is connected to all but one of said power sources, said one power source

5. being different for each of said transfer units..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A power distribution system interposed between a plurality of power sources and a number of power outputs, comprising:

one load transfer unit for each of said power outputs, each of said load transfer units including a multitude of inputs, a single output, and means for establishing connection between only a selected one of said inputs and said single output at any given time;

first connecting means for connecting said single output of each of said load transfer units at all times exclusively to one of said power outputs, said one power output being different for each of said load transfer units; and

second connecting means for individually connecting said inputs of each of said load transfer units to less than all of said power sources..Iaddend.

6. Iadd.20. The system of claim 19, wherein said second connecting means connects said inputs of each of said load transfer units to all but one of said power sources, said one power source being different for each of said load transfer units..Iaddend.