Generator transfer switching system with multiple generator modes

• US 6,531,790 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advance Controls, Inc. (D. Panuce & Associates Ltd., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Keenan, Michael J., Panuce, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/818,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64-66, 307/70, 307/23, 307/25, 307/29, 200/14, 200/16.A, 200/18
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/64 Encased switches adapted for ganged operation when assembled in a line with identical switches, e.g. stacked switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply circuits in H02J9/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• 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: 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A generator transfer switching system having a multi-position generator transfer switch that enables a homeowner or user to manually select a group of circuits from among a number of pre-selected groups of circuits for transfer from utility company service to a standby generator via a single cam-operated switch. The multi-position generator transfer switch is comprised of a contact block having multiple stages with a shaft and a handle to turn the shaft. Each stage contains electrical contacts and cams operably connected to the contacts. The cams are mounted on a shaft running through the center of the block and connected at one end to a handle. The handle can be manually turned to switch a group of selected household circuits from the utility company service to an electric generator service. The switch eliminates the potential for electrical back feed from either the utility company to the generator or from the generator to the utility company.

Claims

1. A generator transfer switching system for manually switching a desired group of pre-selected circuits from utility company service to a standby generator, said system comprising:

an electrical generator;

a main electrical panel comprising multiple circuits; and

a multi-position generator transfer switch electrically interposed between the electrical generator and the main electrical panel, said generator transfer switch comprising multiple stages, each stage containing a pair of double make/break contacts, said double make/break contacts comprising a pair of stationary contacts and two moveable contacts, each moveable contact operably connected to a cam, each cam mounted on a shaft disposed along a central axis of the generator transfer switch, said shaft having at one end a handle, said multi-position generator transfer switch having two or more GENERATOR modes wherein for each GENERATOR mode a group of pre-selected circuits is removed from utility service and connected to standby generator service;

wherein manually turning the handle switches a desired group of pre-selected circuits from utility company service to the standby generator.

2. The generator transfer switching system of claim 1 wherein the electrical panel comprises circuit breakers for short circuit protection.

3. The generator transfer switching system of claim 1 wherein the multi-position generator transfer switch has a LINE mode of operations in which electrical power is routed from the utility through the transfer switch directly to the circuits.

4. The generator transfer switching system of claim 3 wherein the multi-position generator transfer switch further comprises an OFF mode of operation in which electrical power to the circuits is completely interrupted.

5. The generator transfer switching system of claim 1 wherein the transfer switch provides positive break contacts that eliminate the possibility of back feed into the utility company service or standby generator.

6. The generator transfer switching system of claim 1 wherein the number of circuits capable of being switched over to generator power can be expanded by adding stages of the transfer switch.

7. The generator transfer switching system of claim 1 further comprising circuit breakers or fuses to provide short circuit protection for individual circuits.