Prioritized actuation system with overload protection for a generator transfer switch

A method of supplying electrical power to a series of electrical loads, wherein each electrical load is interconnected with a primary source of electrical power, comprising the steps of:

• supplying electrical power from an auxiliary power source upon a discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source;
• sequentially supplying power to the series of electrical loads from the auxiliary power source;
• discontinuing the supply of power to at least one of the electrical loads from the auxiliary power source in the event the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• and
• subsequently sequentially supplying power to the series of electrical loads from the auxiliary power source to restore the supply of power to the series of electrical loads wherein the step of sequentially supplying power to the series of electrical loads, is carried out according to an order of priority for the series of electrical loads, wherein the steps of sequentially supplying power, discontinuing the supply of power and subsequently sequentially supplying power are carried out by operation of a series of switches, wherein each switch is interposed between the auxiliary power source and one of the electrical loads wherein the step of discontinuing the supply of power to all of the electrical loads is carried out by simultaneously moving all of the switches that are in an actuated position to a de-actuated position when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein the steps of sequentially supplying power and subsequently sequentially supplying power are carried out by sequentially operating individual ones of the switches for movement from the de-actuated position to the actuated position, wherein each switch is moved from the de-actuated position to the actuated position subsequent to a predetermined time delay after movement of the prior switch from its de-actuated position to its actuated position, wherein the step of simultaneously moving all of the switches that are in an actuated position to an de-actuated position, and the steps of sequentially operating individual ones of the switches for movement from the de-actuated position to the actuated position, are carried out by a controller configured to monitor the total load on the auxiliary power source, and an automatic actuating arrangement associated with at least some of the switches and responsive to the controller for moving at least some of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position, wherein the automatic actuator arrangement is operable to move certain of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position, and further comprising the step of manually moving certain of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position subsequent to movement of others of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position via the automatic actuating arrangement.

A transfer switch arrangement adapted to be interposed between an auxiliary power source and an electrical load center, wherein the electrical load center is interconnected with a primary power source and includes a series of branch electrical circuits, each of which is interconnected with an electrical load, comprising:

• a controller;
• a series of switches, wherein each switch is interconnected between the auxiliary power source and one of the branch circuits, wherein each of the switches is movable in response to the controller between an actuated position and a de-actuated position, and wherein the controller is operable to sequentially move the switches in a first power supply sequence in an order of priority from the de-actuated position to the actuated position upon a discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source to supply power to the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• wherein, during the first power supply sequence, the controller is operable to move a lower priority one of the switches to the de-actuated position when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to discontinue the supply of electrical power to at least one of the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• wherein the controller is further operable to move the de-actuated lower priority switch to the actuated position to restore the supply of power from the auxiliary power source to the branch circuit interconnected with the lower priority switch when the total load on the auxiliary power source falls below the predetermined threshold;
• and
• wherein the controller is further operable to terminate the first power supply sequence when all of the switches are in the actuated position;
• move all of the switches to the de-actuated position when, after termination of the first power supply sequence, the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds the predetermined threshold;
• and subsequently move the switches to the actuated position in a second power supply sequence, in accordance with the order of priority.

A transfer switch arrangement adapted to be interposed between an auxiliary power source and an electrical load center, wherein the electrical load center is interconnected with a primary power source and includes a series of branch electrical circuits, each of which is interconnected with an electrical load, comprising:

• a series of switches, wherein each switch is interconnected between the auxiliary power source and one of the branch circuits, wherein each of the switches is movable between an actuated position and a de-actuated position, and wherein the switches are adapted to be sequentially moved from the de-actuated position to the actuated position upon a discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source to supply power to the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• a controller interconnected with the series of switches, wherein the controller is operable to simultaneously move at least one of the switches to the de-actuated position when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to discontinue the supply of electrical power to at least one of the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• and
• wherein the de-actuated switch is adapted to be subsequently sequentially moved from the de-actuated position to the actuated position to restore the supply of power from the auxiliary power source to the branch circuit interconnected therewith;
• wherein the controller is operably configured to simultaneously move all of the switches to the de-actuated position when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds the predetermined threshold, and to provide initial movement of selected ones of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position upon discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source in accordance with a predetermined order of priority, and to provide subsequent sequential movement of selected ones of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position subsequent to the controller simultaneously moving all of the switches to the de-actuated position when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein others of the switches are manually movable from the de-actuated position to the actuated position subsequent to movement of the selected ones of the switches from the de-actuated position to the actuated position in accordance with the predetermined order of priority.

A transfer switch arrangement adapted to be interposed between an auxiliary power source and an electrical load center, wherein the electrical load center is interconnected with a primary power source and includes a series of branch electrical circuits, each of which is interconnected with an electrical load, comprising:

• a controller;
• load sensing means interconnected with the controller;
• and
• a series of switches, wherein each switch is interconnected with the controller and interposed between the auxiliary power source and one of the branch electrical circuits, wherein the switches are actuated by the controller upon a discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source so as to interconnect the branch electrical circuits with the auxiliary power source;
• wherein the controller is operably configured to operate the switches to:
• sequentially actuate the switches in a first power supply sequence in an order of priority upon a discontinuation in the supply of power from the primary power source to supply power to the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source, wherein, during the first power supply sequence, the controller is operable to de-actuate a lower priority one of the switches when the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to discontinue the supply of electrical power to at least one of the branch circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• move the de-actuated lower priority switch from the de-actuated position to the actuated position to restore the supply of power from the auxiliary power source to the branch circuit interconnected therewith when the total load on the auxiliary power source falls below the predetermined threshold;
• terminate the first power supply sequence when all of the switches are in the actuated position;
• move all of the switches to the de-actuated position when, after termination of the first power supply sequence, the total load on the auxiliary power source exceeds the predetermined threshold;
• and
• subsequently move the switches to the actuated position in a second power supply sequence, in accordance with the order of priority.