Electrical load optimization device

An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

• demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;
• switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;
• digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line;
• and
• external conditioning means, responsive to external signals, for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;
• wherein said digital recycle counter comprises;
• counting means for generating a count of the oscillations of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line,
• setting means for manually presetting a number of counts for a normal "off" cycle, a number of counts for a normal "on" cycle, a number of counts for an "off extend" cycle, and a number of counts for an "on extend" cycle;
• extend means, responsive to said external conditioning means, said extend means operable to
• set a desired number of counts in an "off" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "off" cycle when said external condition means indicates a normal external condition,
• set a desired number of counts in an "off" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "off" cycle plus said number of counts in said "off extend" cycle when said external condition means indicates an abnormal external condition,
• set a desired number of counts in an "on" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "on" cycle when said external condition means indicates a normal external condition, and
• set a desired number of counts in an "on" cycle equal to said number of counts in said normal "on" Cycle plus said number of counts in said "on extend" cycle when said external condition means indicates an abnormal external condition;
• means for closing said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "off" cycle,
• means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means when said count of the oscillations equals said desired number of counts for an "on" cycle, and
• means for alternating continuously between said "off" cycle and said "on" cycle as long as the oscillating control signal is present in the control signal line;
• and
• means for closing said switch means and stopping the counting means upon cessation of the oscillating control signal in the control signal line;
• and
• means for opening said switch means and restarting said counting means from a count of zero in said "off" cycle immediately upon restoration of the control signal in the control signal line;
• thereby
• imposing said "off" cycle, as set by said extend means, followed by said "on" cycle, as set by said extend means, upon the control signal during all times when the control signal is present and delaying initiation of any control signal by at least the period of said "off" cycle, wherein
• the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals and whereby absolutely no electrical power is consumed by said demand control means when said energy consuming equipment is not operating.

An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

• demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;
• switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;
• digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line;
• and
• external conditioning means, responsive to an external signal, said external signal being derived from an outside temperature sensor in the vicinity of the equipment and said external condition means only indicates an abnormal condition when the sensed outside temperature is abnormally hot or abnormally cold, said signal for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;
• wherein
• the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals.

An apparatus for automatically controlling and managing load demand and operation of energy-consuming equipment powered by alternating electrical power current on electric power supply lines from a utility company, the equipment having individual loads, the power to each of which is controlled by oscillating control signals on control signal lines, wherein the oscillating control signals are derived from and synchronized with the alternating electrical power current and the control signal lines are separate from the electric power supply lines, comprising:

• demand control means, interposed wholly within the control signal lines of the individual loads of the equipment, each said demand control means comprising;
• switch means in series with the control signal line to open and close the control signal line;
• digital recycle counter means operable to open and close the control signal line by providing counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means only when the equipment provides the oscillating control signals on the control signal line;
• and
• external conditioning means, responsive to an external signal, said external signal being derived from the power supply line frequency, controllable by the utility, and said external condition sensor only indicates an abnormal condition when said power line frequency differs by a predetermined amount from a standard operating frequency, said signal for regulating said digital recycle counter means by altering the counts of said counted cyclic opening and closing signals to said switch means in response to said external signals;
• wherein
• the energy consumed by the equipment is reduced and the operation efficiency of the equipment optimized in accordance with said external signals.