Apparatus and method for preventing an electrical backfeed
First Claim
1. A transfer switch comprising:
- a first input to couple a first multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch;
a first set of switches in electrical communication with the first input;
a second input to couple a second multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch;
a second set of switches in electrical communication with the second input;
an output to couple the transfer switch to a load;
a third set of switches coupled in series between the second set of switches and the output; and
a control module to monitor and control operation of the first set of switches, the second set of switches and the third set of switches to selectively couple the first input and the second input to the output and to detect a malfunction of any switches included in at least one of the first set of switches, the second set of switches and the third set of switches and to prevent the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input,wherein the second set of switches are coupled in series between the first set of switches and the third set of switches.
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Abstract
At least one aspect is directed to a transfer switch including a first input to couple a first multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch, and a second input to couple a second multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch. The transfer switch also includes a first set of switches in electrical communication with the first input and a second set of switches in electrical communication with the second input. A control module monitors and controls operation of both the first set of switches and the second set of switches to detect a malfunction of any switches included in at least one of the first set of switches and the second set of switches and prevent the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input.
60 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A transfer switch comprising:
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a first input to couple a first multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch; a first set of switches in electrical communication with the first input; a second input to couple a second multiphase low voltage electrical supply to the transfer switch; a second set of switches in electrical communication with the second input; an output to couple the transfer switch to a load; a third set of switches coupled in series between the second set of switches and the output; and a control module to monitor and control operation of the first set of switches, the second set of switches and the third set of switches to selectively couple the first input and the second input to the output and to detect a malfunction of any switches included in at least one of the first set of switches, the second set of switches and the third set of switches and to prevent the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input, wherein the second set of switches are coupled in series between the first set of switches and the third set of switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of preventing a backfeed through a transfer switch, the transfer switch comprising a first input coupled to a first switch and adapted to receive a first multiphase low voltage power from a first power source, a second input coupled to a second switch and adapted to receive a second multiphase low voltage power from a second power source, an output and a third switch coupled to the output, the method comprising:
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connecting the first input to the output at least in part by operating the second switch to connect the first switch to the third switch; initiating a transfer to disconnect the output from the first input and connect the output to the second input at least in part by operating the second switch to connect the second input to the third switch; operating a plurality of sets of switches to complete the transfer; monitoring at least one of the plurality of sets of switches to detect a malfunction of any switches; and stopping the transfer if a malfunction is detected to prevent the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A transfer switch comprising:
a first input to couple a first multiphase low voltage electrical power supply to the transfer switch; a first set of switches in electrical communication with the first input; a second input to couple a second multiphase low voltage electrical power supply to the transfer switch; a second set of switches in electrical communication with the second input; an output to couple the transfer switch to a load; a third set of switches coupled in series between the second set of switches and the output; and means for detecting a malfunction in any of the first set of switches, the second set of switches and the third set of switches, and upon detecting a malfunction, preventing a connection of at least one of the first input and the second input to the output, wherein the second set of switches are coupled in series between the first set of switches and the third set of switches. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A transfer switch comprising:
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a first input to couple to a first power source; a second input to couple to a second power source; an output to provide output power; a first switching module coupled to the first input, the second input and the output and configured to selectively couple one of the first input and the second input with the output; a second switching module coupled to the first input, the second input and the output and configured to selectively couple one of the first input and the second input with the output; an interface configured to allow a user to select a single phase configuration or a multiphase configuration for each of the first switching module and the second switching module; and a control device coupled to the interface and the first switching module and the second switching module and configured to prevent the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input for the multiphase configuration of either the first switching module or the second switching module. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of switching multiple power sources to a load using a transfer switch having at least a first switching module and a second switching module, the method comprising:
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coupling a first power source to the first switching module and to the second switching module; coupling a second power source to the first switching module and to the second switching module; configuring a user interface of the transfer switch to allow a user to select between a single phase mode of operation and a multiphase mode of operation for each of the first switching module and the second switching module; monitoring at least one of the first switching module and the second switching module to detect a malfunction within the at least one of the first switching module and the second switching module; and preventing a transfer of power from the first power source to the second power source upon detection of a malfunction. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A transfer switch comprising:
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a first input to couple to a first power source; a second input to couple to a second power source; an output to provide output power; a first switching module coupled to the first input, the second input and the output and configured to selectively couple one of the first input and the second input with the output; a second switching module coupled to the first input, the second input and the output and configured to selectively couple one of the first input and the second input with the output; means tor selecting a single phase configuration or a multiphase configuration for each of the first switching module and the second switching module and means for preventing the first input from being placed in electrical communication with the second input for the multiphase configuration. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification