System for monitoring and controlling electric power consumption

Claim 1

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of a particular one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 2

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of a particular one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 4

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals, and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; relative load connection means for connecting the load line of each individual load into one of a number of relative groupings according to the amount of amperage drawn by said load; relative overdraw sensing means responsive to the selected maximum allowable amperage and to the supply line sensing signal for generating a further overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage by more than a pre-selected overdraw value; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; relative load control means responsive to said further overdraw signal and to the relative connection of the load lines for directing the shed signal generated by the control circuit so as to cause the shedding of a load in the grouping having an amperage draw corresponding relatively to the amount by which the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the relative load control means, and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 5

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals, and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; relative load connection means for connecting the load line of each individual load into one of a number of relative groupings according to the amount of amperage drawn by said load; relative overdraw sensing means responsive to the selected maximum allowable amperage and to the supply line sensing signal for generating a further overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage by more than a pre-selected overdraw value; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; relative load control means responsive to said further overdraw signal and to the relative connection of the load lines for directing the shed signal generated by the control circuit so as to cause the shedding of a load in the grouping having an amperage draw corresponding relatively to the amount by which the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the relative load control means, and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 11

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals, and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; relative load connection means for connecting the load line of each individual load into one of two groupings, a first grouping for loads having an amperage draw above some selected load value, and a second grouping for loads having an amperage draw below the selected load value; relative overdraw sensing means responsive to the selected maximum allowable amperage and to the supply line sensing signal for generating a second overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing the the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage by more than a pre-selected overdraw value; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; relative load control means responsive to the second overdraw signal and to the relative connection of the load lines, for directing the shed signal generated by the control circuit so as to cause the shedding of a load in the first grouping of loads whenever the excess amperage flowing in the supply lines is greater than the pre-selected overdraw value, and to cause the shedding of a load in the second grouping when the excess amperage flowing in the supply line is less than the pre-selected overdraw value; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the relative load control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 12

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply line sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals, and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; relative load connection means for connecting the load line of each individual load into one of two groupings, a first grouping for loads having an amperage draw above some selected load value, and a second grouping for loads having an amperage draw below the selected load value; relative overdraw sensing means responsive to the selected maximum allowable amperage and to the supply line sensing signal for generating a second overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing the the supply line exceeds the selected maximum allowable amperage by more than a pre-selected overdraw value; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; relative load control means responsive to the second overdraw signal and to the relative connection of the load lines, for directing the shed signal generated by the control circuit so as to cause the shedding of a load in the first grouping of loads whenever the excess amperage flowing in the supply lines is greater than the pre-selected overdraw value, and to cause the shedding of a load in the second grouping when the excess amperage flowing in the supply line is less than the pre-selected overdraw value; and shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the relative load control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load.

Claim 14

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply lines sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of a particular one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load; and sequential load reset means for periodically returning to an operative status all individual loads then disconnected as a result of any previous shed signal, the returning to operative status of more than one load taking place on a sequential time-delayed basis.

Claim 15

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, said loads being supplied by respective load lines, and for decreasing the instantaneous amperage draw of the installation to within a pre-selected allowable maximum whenever the amperage draw exceeds that maximum, comprising: supply lines sensing means magnetically coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; allowable load set point programming means for selecting the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving the supply line sensing signal from the supply line sensing means, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the allowable maximum; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point programming means to change the maximum allowable amperage draw to a new pre-selected value; individual load sensing means magnetically coupled to each of the load lines for generating a load sensing signal for each individual load to indicate whether the individual load is operating; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from the allowable load set point programming means and the load sensing signals from the individual load sensing means, and for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of a particular one of the operating individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; shed means electrically connected to the individual loads for receiving the shed signal from the control means and for disconnecting the particular individual load; and sequential load reset means for periodically returning to an operative status all individual loads then disconnected as a result of any previous shed signal, the returning to operative status of more than one load taking place on a sequential time-delayed basis.

Claim 19

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, comprising: a supply line sensor coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; an allowable load set point indicator for designating the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving said supply line sensing signal from said supply line sensor, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the maximum allowable amperage draw; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from said allowable load set point indicator for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of particular individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; a load shedding circuit electrically connectable to the individual loads for receiving said shed signal from said control means and for disconnecting said particular individual loads, said load shedding circuit including a shed priority control circuit for changing the shedding sequence of the individual loads on different shed cycles following occurrence of said overdraw signal; and a timer for controlling the period during which individual loads are shed, said timer being connected to said load shedding circuit for re-connecting individual loads after being disconnected for predetermined time intervals to thereby create an overdraw to initiate a new shed cycle and the shedding of a different load.

Claim 20

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, comprising: a supply line sensor coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; an allowable load set point indicator for designating the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving said supply line sensing signal from said supply line sensor, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the maximum allowable amperage draw; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from said allowable load set point indicator for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of particular individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; a load shedding circuit electrically connectable to the individual loads for receiving said shed signal from said control means and for disconnecting said particular individual loads, said load shedding circuit including a shed priority control circuit for changing the shedding sequence of the individual loads on different shed cycles following occurrence of said overdraw signal; and a timer for controlling the period during which individual loads are shed, said timer being connected to said load shedding circuit for re-connecting individual loads after being disconnected for predetermined time intervals to thereby create an overdraw to initiate a new shed cycle and the shedding of a different load.

Claim 21

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, comprising: a supply line sensor coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; an allowable load set point indicator for designating the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving said supply line sensing signal from said supply line sensor, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the maximum allowable amperage draw; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from said allowable load set point indicator for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of particular individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; a load shedding circuit electrically connectable to the individual loads for receiving said shed signal from said control means and for disconnecting said particular individual loads; a timer for controlling the period during which individual loads are shed, said timer being connected to said load shedding circuit for re-connecting individual loads after being disconnected for predetermined time intervals; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals; and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point indicator to change the maximum allowable amperage drawn to a new pre-selected value.

Claim 22

A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical amperage draw of an installation supplied by an electrical supply line, said installation having therein a number of individual loads to be controlled, comprising: a supply line sensor coupled to the electrical supply line for generating a supply line sensing signal proportional to the amperage flowing in the supply line; an allowable load set point indicator for designating the maximum allowable amperage draw, and for receiving said supply line sensing signal from said supply line sensor, to generate an overdraw signal whenever the amperage flowing in the supply line exceeds the maximum allowable amperage draw; control means for receiving the overdraw signal from said allowable load set point indicator for generating a shed signal directing the shedding of particular individual loads so as to decrease the electrical amperage draw of the installation; a load shedding circuit electrically connectable to the individual loads for receiving said shed signal from said control means and for disconnecting said particular individual loads; a timer for controlling the period during which individual loads are shed, said timer being connected to said load shedding circuit for re-connecting individual loads after being disconnected for predetermined time intervals; period programming means for generating a time signal at pre-selected intervals; and means responsive to said time signal for causing said allowable load set point indicator to change the maximum allowable amperage drawn to a new pre-selected value.