Load controlling means

Claim 2

A demand controller for an electrical power system of the type connecting and disconnecting electrical loads from an electrical source to control the level of electrical power consumption comprising: a sensing means responsive to the current in the power system for producing a first output signal when the current is above a first preselected level for a preselected time and a second output signal when the current is below a second preselected level for a preselected time; a first group of control elements each connected to respectively control each of a first group of loads and having a means responsive to control signals for connecting and disconnecting its loads in a preselected first priority sequence; a second group of control elements each connected to respectively control each of a second group of loads and having a means responsive to control signals for connecting and disconnecting its loads in a preselected second priority sequence; and a control means responsive to the first output signal and the second output signal for producing and selectively delivering control signals to the first and second group of control elements in a preselected sequence.

Claim 3

A demand controller according to claim 1 wherein said control elements are plug-in modular units and have a means for electrically connecting to an interconnecting electrical network.

Claim 4

A demand controller according to claim 2 wherein each of said control elements comprises a multiple connector switch connected to selectively change the connections to the interconnecting electrical network to provide selective connections betwen control elements in each priority group.

Claim 5

A demand controller according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a means for measuring the current in the power system to produce an output proportional to the current in the power system, a comparing means responsive to the measuring means output for producing a first signal when the measuring means output is above a first preselected level and for producing a second signal when it is below a second preselected level; and a time delay means responsive to the first and second signals for producing a corresponding first output signal and a second output signal in response to the receipt of the first signal and the second signal, respectively, after a preselected time interval.

Claim 6

A demand controller according to claim 1 wherein said control elements each have a means responsive to the receipt of an appropriate control signal for connecting or disconnecting its corresponding load and for producing an output for at least one other control element of the same group, and each have a means responsive to said control element outputs for changing conditions in preparation for receipt of a control signal.

Claim 7

A demand controller according to claim 5, wherein said control elements each have a means responsive to the receipt of an appropriate control signal for connecting or disconnecting its corresponding load and for producing one output for at least one other control element of the same group.

Claim 8

A demand controller for an electrical power system of the type connecting and disconnecting electrical loads from an electrical source to control the level of electrical power consumption comprising; a means for measuring the current in the power system to produce an output varying as a function of the current; a comparing means responsive to the measuring means output for producing a first signal when the measuring means output is above a first preselected level and a second signal when the measuring means output is below a second preselected level; a time delay means responsive to the first and second signals for producing a corresponding shed signal and a restore signal in response to the receipt of the first signal and the second signal respectively after a preselected time interval; a group of equal priority control elements each connected to respectively control each of a first group of loads and each having a means for producing an output indicating the connection or disconnection of its corresponding load and said group having a means responsive to shed control signals for disconnecting the first group of loads in an equal priority sequence and to restore control signals for connecting the first group of loads in an equal priority sequence; a group of set priority control elements each connected to respectively control a second group of loads and each having a means for producing an output indicating the connection or disconnection of its corresponding load, said group having a means responsive to shed control signals for disconnecting the second group loads in a set priority sequence and responsive to restore control signals for connecting the second group of loads in a set priority sequence; and a control means responsive to the shed signal and the restore signal for producing corresponding shed control signals and restore control signals and for selectively delivering the control signals to the two groups of control elements in a preselected sequence.

Claim 9

A demand controller for an electrical power system of the type connecting and disconnecting electrical loads from an electrical source to control the level of electrical power consumption comprising; a means for measuring the current in the power system to produce an output varying as a function of the current; a comparing means responsive to the measuring means output for producing a first signal when the measuring means output is above a first preselected level and a second signal when the measuring means output is below a second preselected level; a time delay means responsive to the first and second signals for producing a corresponding shed signal and a restore signal in response to the receipt of the first signal and the second signal respectively after a preselected time interval; a group of equal priority control elements each connected to respectively control each of a first group of loads and each having a means for producing an output indicating the connection or disconnection of its corresponding load and said group having a means responsive to shed control signals for disconnecting the first group of loads in an equal priority sequence and to restore control signals for connecting the first group of loads in an equal priority sequence; a group of set priority control elements each connected to respectively control a second group of loads and each having a means for producing an output indicating the connection or disconnection of its corresponding load, said group having a means responsive to shed control signals for disconnecting the second group loads in a set priority sequence and responsive to restore control signals for connecting the second group of loads in a set priority sequence; and a control means responsive to the shed signal and the restore signal for producing corresponding shed control signals and restore control signals and for selectively delivering the control signals to the two groups of control elements in a preselected sequence.