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US 6,784,385 B2Granted
Electrical transfer switch
OwnerRubén Hernández-Pérezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer switch system includes a normal power supply and an emergency power supply. A set of linked switches select between these power supplies. A breaker seperates the power supplies from loading circuit. The switches and the breaker are mounted within an enclosure having an exterior handle. The exterior handle controls the selection between the normal and emergency power supplies.
Claims17
A transfer switch system for connecting loading circuits to a normal power source and to an emergency power source comprising:
- an enclosure having a front face and a plurality of side walls, wherein the front face defines a circular hole sized to fit an electrical power meter, and wherein the side walls define at least one hole for passing wires that carry electrical power from a normal power source and an emergency power source and at least one hole for passing wires that carry electrical power to loading circuits;
- an electrical power meter mounted within the enclosure and extending through the circular hole in the front face and electrically connected with the normal power source to measure the electrical power flowing from the normal power source;
- a normal power switch mounted within the enclosure and electrically connected to the normal power source and to the loading circuits and configured to connect the normal power source to the loading circuits in an on position and to disconnect the normal power source from the loading circuits in an off position;
- an emergency power switch mounted within the enclosure proximate the normal power switch and electrically connected to the emergency power source and the loading circuits and configured to connect the emergency power source to the loading circuits in an on position and to disconnect the emergency power source from the loading circuits in an off position;
- and
- a handle mounted on the front face of the enclosure proximate the normal power switch and the emergency power switch, wherein the handle includes a bracket extending into the interior of the enclosure to engage the normal power switch and the emergency power switch so that operation of the handle to a normal position places the normal power switch in the on position and the emergency power switch in the off position, and so that operation of the handle to the emergency position places the normal power switch in the off position and the emergency power switch in the on position.
3 more elements
A power meter and switch box for selecting between a utility power supply and an auxiliary power supply comprising:
- an enclosure having a first chamber and a second chamber and a front cover having a first portion that covers the first chamber and a second portion hingedly attached to the first portion that covers the second chamber and seals the first and second chambers from atmospheric conditions;
- a meter electrically connected with a utility power supply and configured to determine the amount of electrical power that has been used from the utility power supply, wherein the meter is mounted within the first chamber of the enclosure and wherein the meter includes a display that extends through a hole defined by the enclosure so that the amount of electrical power that has been used from the utility power supply can be readily determined;
- an auxiliary power terminal configured to removeably connect with an auxiliary power supply and mounted within the second chamber of the enclosure;
- a breaker switch configured to removeably connect with a loading circuit and mounted within the second chamber of the enclosure;
- a set of power switches connected between the meter and the breaker switch and between the auxiliary power terminal and the breaker switch and configured to operate in tandem so that when the set of power switches forms an electrical connection between the meter and the breaker switch, the electrical power switches disconnect the auxiliary power terminal from the breaker switch, and so that when the set of power switches forms an electrical connection between the auxiliary power terminal and the breaker switch, the electrical power switches disconnect the meter from the breaker switch, and wherein the set of power switches are mounted in the second chamber;
- and
- a handle engaging the set of power switches and having a normal and an auxiliary position, so that operation of the handle to the normal position causes the set of power switches to form an electrical connection between the meter and the breaker switch and so that operation of the handle to the auxiliary position causes the set of power switches to form an electrical connection between the auxiliary power terminal and the breaker switch.
4 more elements
A transfer switch for connecting an auxiliary power source during a failure of a power utility comprising:
- an enclosure defining a plurality of channels for receiving electrical connections;
- a standard power meter electrically connected with a power utility to measure the amount of electrical power passing from the power utility to a load and to display a current reading, and positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
- an auxiliary terminal electrically connected with an auxiliary power supply and positioned within the enclosure;
- a breaker switch electrically connected with a load, positioned within the enclosure and configured to disconnect the load when the current thereto exceeds a predetermined threshold;
- a set of switches electrically connected between the power meter, the electrical terminal and the breaker switch, wherein the electrical switches have a normal position and an emergency position so that the breaker switch is electrically connected to only the power meter in the normal position and to only the electrical terminal in the emergency position;
- and
- a handle mounted on an outside surface of the enclosure and extending into the enclosure to engage the set of switches wherein the handle comprises a bracket that extends into the enclosure and engages the set of switches, wherein the bracket includes:
- a first u-shaped plate defining a pair of slots;
- a flat plate extending through the pair of slots in the first u-shaped plate so that the flat plate is free to move along a first axis but is restricted from moving in any other direction by the confines of the pair of slots, and wherein movement of the handle moves the flat plate along the first axis;
- and
- a second u-shaped plate extending from the flat plate and positioned so that the set of switches are confined between the walls of the u-shaped plate, so that movement of the flat plate causes the u-shaped plate to operate the set of switches so that operation of the handle moves the set of switches between the normal position and the emergency position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.