Power averaging and power load management system
First Claim
1. A power and load management system for a recreational vehicle, comprising:
- a power distribution panel comprising a distribution controller operative at least to generate distribution control signals including at least distribution relay control signals, and a power transfer switch comprising;
multiple power inputs, each operative to be connected to a power source;
two power transfer lines to the power distribution switch;
multiple ATS relays, each controlled independently by power transfer control signals to connect and disconnect one of the power inputs to one of the power transfer lines, at least one of ATS relays being controllable to selectively connect any one of multiple power inputs to one of the power transfer lines;
multiple ATS sensors, each operative to generate a power availability signal corresponding to the availability of power on a corresponding one of the power input lines; and
an ATS controller operative at least to receive power availability signals generated by the ATS sensors, and generate the power transfer control signals to independently control the ATS relays in response to at least the power availability signals, and to generate ATS signals to the distribution controller corresponding to power availability to the power distribution switch via the power transfer lines;
wherein the power distribution panel further comprises;
distribution relays, each controllable independently of the others in response to at least distribution relay control signals from the distribution controller, to selectively connect and disconnect each of the power transfer lines to a power load; and
a set of current sensors, each operative to generate a current draw signal corresponding to the current drawn by a corresponding power loads;
and wherein the distribution controller is in communication at least with the ATS controller, the distribution relays, and the current sensors and is operative to generate the distribution relay control signals in response to at least current draw signals and ATS signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power and load management system for a recreational vehicle provides a power distribution panel comprising a distribution controller operative to generate distribution control signals including at least load signals corresponding to the power load demands on the power distribution panel and distribution relay control signals, and an automatic transfer switch (ATS). The ATS has multiple power inputs, each operative to be connected to one of multiple power sources, e.g., shore power, a battery bank, a generator, etc., and two power transfer lines to the power distribution switch. The ATS further comprises multiple relays, each controllable independently of the others by an ATS controller to connect a corresponding one of the power transfer lines to a selected one of the available power inputs to feed power to the power distribution panel. The ATS further has multiple sensors, each operative to generate a power availability signal to the ATS controller corresponding to the availability of power on a corresponding one of the power input lines. The ATS controller is operative to receive load signals from the distribution controller and power availability signals from the ATS sensors, and to generate the power transfer control signals to the ATS relays and ATS signals to the distribution controller corresponding to power availability. The power distribution panel further comprises independently controllable distribution relays to connect each of the power transfer lines to power load(s).
109 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power and load management system for a recreational vehicle, comprising:
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a power distribution panel comprising a distribution controller operative at least to generate distribution control signals including at least distribution relay control signals, and a power transfer switch comprising;
multiple power inputs, each operative to be connected to a power source;
two power transfer lines to the power distribution switch;
multiple ATS relays, each controlled independently by power transfer control signals to connect and disconnect one of the power inputs to one of the power transfer lines, at least one of ATS relays being controllable to selectively connect any one of multiple power inputs to one of the power transfer lines;
multiple ATS sensors, each operative to generate a power availability signal corresponding to the availability of power on a corresponding one of the power input lines; and
an ATS controller operative at least to receive power availability signals generated by the ATS sensors, and generate the power transfer control signals to independently control the ATS relays in response to at least the power availability signals, and to generate ATS signals to the distribution controller corresponding to power availability to the power distribution switch via the power transfer lines;
wherein the power distribution panel further comprises;
distribution relays, each controllable independently of the others in response to at least distribution relay control signals from the distribution controller, to selectively connect and disconnect each of the power transfer lines to a power load; and
a set of current sensors, each operative to generate a current draw signal corresponding to the current drawn by a corresponding power loads;
and wherein the distribution controller is in communication at least with the ATS controller, the distribution relays, and the current sensors and is operative to generate the distribution relay control signals in response to at least current draw signals and ATS signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power and load management system for a recreational vehicle, comprising, in combination:
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a power distribution panel comprising a distribution controller operative to generate distribution control signals including at least load signals corresponding to the power load demands on the power distribution panel, and distribution relay control signals, and a power transfer switch comprising multiple power inputs, each operative to be connected to one of multiple power sources, and two power transfer lines to the power distribution switch;
wherein the power transfer switch further comprises;
multiple ATS relays, each controlled independently to selectively connect either of the power transfer lines to any of the power inputs to feed power to the power distribution panel;
multiple ATS sensors, each operative to generate a power availability signal corresponding to the availability of power on a corresponding one of the power input lines; and
an ATS controller operative to receive load signals from the distribution controller, to receive power availability signals generated by the ATS sensors, to generate the power transfer control signals to independently control the ATS relays in response to at least the power availability signals and the load signals, and to generate ATS signals to the distribution controller corresponding to power availability to the power distribution switch via the power transfer lines;
wherein the power distribution panel further comprises;
a first set of distribution relays, each controlled independently of others of the first set of distribution relays, in response to at least distribution relay control signals from the distribution controller, to selectively connect one of the power transfer lines to at least one of a plurality of power loads; and
a set of current sensors, each operative to generate a current draw signal corresponding to the current being drawn on the distribution system by a corresponding one of the power loads; and
wherein the distribution controller is in communication at least with the ATS controller, the relays of the first set of distribution relays, and the current sensors, and is operative to generate the distribution relay control signals in response to at least current draw signals and ATS signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A power and load management system for a recreational vehicle comprising:
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a first set of relays, each operative to select a power source from multiple available power sources for power to be distributed to a corresponding one of a plurality of power loads by the power distribution system;
a second set of relays, each in communication with a corresponding relay of the first set of relays and operative to selectively drop a corresponding one of the plurality of power loads from the distribution system;
a set of current sensors, each operative to generate a signal in response to the current being drawn by a corresponding one of the power loads on the distribution system;
a set of power load sensors, each operative to generate a signal in response to a corresponding one of the plurality of power loads on the distribution system; and
a distribution controller in communication with the first and second sets of relays and the current and power load sensors, operative in response to signals received by the controller from corresponding ones of the current and power load sensors to control each of the relays of the first set of relays, independently of others of the relays of the first set of relays, to select a power source for the corresponding one of the plurality of power loads, and to control each of the relays of the second set of relays, independently of others of the relays of the second set of relays, to add or drop the corresponding one of the plurality of power loads from the distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification