US 2010/0141047 A1Published application

Closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly and associated method

OwnerIrving A. Gibbs, Justin Hoglund +4inventors

InventorsIrving A. Gibbs, Justin Hoglund, Cathleen Clausen, Robert Yanniello, Avadhoot Muley, Todd M. Lathrop

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Abstract

The disclosed concept provides for a closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly having only two switch assemblies. This system utilizes a first switch assembly and a bypass switch assembly. The switch assemblies are each physically coupled to two power sources as well as the system load. The switch assemblies each include a power actuated contact arm. Each contact arm is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the system load. Each contact arm may further be placed in one of the following configuration; a first configuration wherein the contact arm couples, and provides electrical communication between, the first source and the system load conductor, a second configuration wherein the contact arm couples, and provides electrical communication between, the second source and the system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither the first source nor the second source is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the system load conductor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly structured to provide energy to a system load via a system load conductor and structured to receive energy from a first and a second source via conductors, a first source conductor and a second source conductor, said closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly comprising:

a first switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said first switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor via said first switch assembly;
a bypass switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said bypass switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor via said bypass switch assembly;
a control system structured to control a plurality of switch assemblies, said control system coupled to said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly and structured to place each said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly in one of said first, second, or neutral configurations;
and
wherein, when said first switch assembly is in said first configuration and said bypass switch assembly is not in said second configuration, said control system is further structured to perform a closed transition from said first source to said second source by actuating said bypass switch assembly to move into said second configuration, actuating said first switch assembly to move into said second configuration, and actuating said bypass switch assembly to move into said neutral configuration.

2 more elements

A method of performing a closed transfer between two energy sources utilizing a closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly wherein energy is provided from a first energy source via a first source conductor, energy is provided from a second energy source via a second source conductor, energy is provided to a system load via a system load conductor, said automatic transfer switch assembly includes a first switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said first switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor via said first switch assembly, and a bypass switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said bypass switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor via said bypass switch assembly, as well as a control system structured to control a plurality of switch assemblies, said control system coupled to said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly and structured to place each said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly in one of said first, second, or neutral configurations, said method comprising the steps of:

actuating said bypass switch assembly to move into said second configuration;
actuating said first switch assembly to move into said second configuration;
and
actuating said bypass switch assembly to move into said neutral configuration.

1 more element

A method of performing a closed transfer between two energy sources utilizing a closed transition automatic transfer switch assembly wherein energy is provided from a first energy source via a first source conductor, energy is provided from a second energy source via a second source conductor, energy is provided to a system load via a system load conductor, said automatic transfer switch assembly includes a first switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said first switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said first switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor, and a bypass switch assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each of said first source conductor, said second source conductor, and said system load conductor, said bypass switch assembly structured to have three configurations, a first configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said first source conductor and said system load conductor, a second configuration wherein said bypass switch assembly couples, and provides electrical communication between, said second source conductor and said system load conductor, and a neutral configuration wherein neither said first source conductor nor said second source conductor is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said system load conductor, as well as a control system structured to control a plurality of switch assemblies, said control system coupled to said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly and structured to place each said first switch assembly and said bypass switch assembly in one of said first, second, or neutral configurations, said method comprising the steps of:

actuating said bypass switch assembly to move into said second configuration;
and
actuating said first switch assembly to move into said neutral configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.