US5786642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular power management system and method
Assignee: Nextek Power Systems Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-07
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Granted: 1998-07-28
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Expires: 2016-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical distribution system and method has storage battery mechanism of very large equivalent capacitance providing excellent ripple filtering and an ideal path to ground, and filter capacitor mechanism of microfarad size providing DC blocking and limited AC path to ground. The storage battery entity is maintained as to its charge by DC supply which provides regulated DC power in which switching regulation may be involved. The system and method provides dual voltage capability, both DC and AC in which circuit breakers may be ganged for simultaneous tripping, and in which intrinsic DC circuit(s) may be looped to increase current-carrying capability.
Inventors
- 👤 William George Wilhelm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:15
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J3/00; H02J3/28; H02J3/32; H02J1/00; H02J1/02; H02J1/06; H02J4/00; H02J7/34; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/006; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A modular power management system having common wiring for allowing both AC and DC power therethrough comprising: an electrical distribution panel capable of receiving both AC and DC power simultaneously; a system of busses housed within the panel including electrical power buss means, neutral buss means and ground buss means; a module unit including DC power supply means external to the panel connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means within said panel; means for delivering AC power to said power, neutral, and ground buss means within said panel; means for delivering AC and DC power from said panel comprising an electric outlet having one receptacle connected to said AC power buss means, a second receptacle connected to said neutral buss means, and a third receptacle connected to said ground buss means; means for selectively withdrawing AC or DC power for an external load from said electric outlet connecting said load to selected receptacles within said electric outlet; and circuit breaker means protecting said external load including circuit breakers ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power to receptacles connected to said neutral and AC power busses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A modular power management system having common wiring for allowing both AC and DC power therethrough comprising: an electrical distribution panel capable of receiving both AC and DC power simultaneously; a system of busses housed within the panel including electrical power buss means, neutral buss means and ground buss means; a module unit including DC power supply means external to the panel connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means within said panel; means for delivering AC power to said power, neutral, and ground buss means within said panel; means for delivering AC and DC power from said panel comprising an electric outlet having one receptacle connected to said AC power buss means, a second receptacle connected to said neutral buss means, and a third receptacle connected to said ground buss means; means for selectively withdrawing AC or DC power for an external load from said electric outlet connecting said load to selected receptacles within said electric outlet; and circuit breaker means protecting said external load including circuit breakers ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power to receptacles connected to said neutral and AC power busses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a modular power management system as defined in claim 1 including said DC power supply means includes storage battery means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a modular power management system as defined in claim 2 wherein said DC power supply means further comprises a voltage regulator means for maintaining said DC power supply means within a desired voltage range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a modular power management system as defined in claim 2 wherein said DC power supply means is converter means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of electrical distribution at a site which comprises the steps of: providing both an AC and a DC power capability at said site, providing a common wiring system within said site having electrical lines sharing AC power and DC power passing therethrough, providing storage battery means for storing DC energy, supplying said storage battery means with DC power for maintaining the voltage level of said storage battery means not greater than fully charged as defined by the float potential of the storage battery used, providing circuit breaker means in said site ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power, and delivering AC power and/or DC power simultaneously through said common wiring at said site, and, selectively withdrawing AC and/or DC power for at least one external load at said site.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of electrical distribution at a site which comprises the steps of: providing both an AC and a DC power capability at said site, providing a common wiring system within said site having electrical lines sharing AC power and DC power passing therethrough, providing storage battery means for storing DC energy, supplying said storage battery means with DC power for maintaining the voltage level of said storage battery means not greater than fully charged as defined by the float potential of the storage battery used, providing circuit breaker means in said site ganged for simultaneous tripping of both AC power and DC power, and delivering AC power and/or DC power simultaneously through said common wiring at said site, and, selectively withdrawing AC and/or DC power for at least one external load at said site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of electrical distribution at a site as defined in claim 5 further including the step of providing filter capacitor means in electrical parallel with said storage battery means, measuring the battery equivalent capacitance of said storage battery means so that the battery equivalent capacitance of said storage battery means is very large consistent with an ideal AC path to ground and the capacitance of said filter capacitor means is very small consistent with a limited AC path to ground but large enough to pass sufficient current to keep fault currents as determined by the ratings of the circuit breakers from constituting a shock hazard and to allow sufficient current flow to trip relevant circuit breakers during a short circuit, and passing current therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a power management system, the combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means for providing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC isolation path from ground, said combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current and means for controlling a charge level of said storage battery means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to carry AC current at 60 Hz and to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said storage battery means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a power management system, the combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means for providing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC isolation path from ground, said combination of storage battery means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current and means for controlling a charge level of said storage battery means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to carry AC current at 60 Hz and to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said storage battery means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said charge level of said storage battery means is a voltage regulator means with rectifier means providing DC input to said voltage regulator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said charge level of said storage battery means is a converter means with rectifier means providing DC input to said converter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A power management system comprising the combination of an electrical distribution box and a modular unit, said electrical distribution box containing a common wiring system sharing separately or together at the same time both AC power and DC power therethrough, said box also housing power buss means, neutral buss means, ground buss means and an AC bypass filter capacitor means of relatively small capacitance and bulk connected between said neutral buss means and said ground buss means; said modular unit housing storage battery means for providing a battery equivalent capacitance and bulk which is very much greater than the capacitance and bulk of said AC bypass filter capacitor means and said storage battery means being housed within said modular unit and connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A power management system comprising the combination of an electrical distribution box and a modular unit, said electrical distribution box containing a common wiring system sharing separately or together at the same time both AC power and DC power therethrough, said box also housing power buss means, neutral buss means, ground buss means and an AC bypass filter capacitor means of relatively small capacitance and bulk connected between said neutral buss means and said ground buss means; said modular unit housing storage battery means for providing a battery equivalent capacitance and bulk which is very much greater than the capacitance and bulk of said AC bypass filter capacitor means and said storage battery means being housed within said modular unit and connected across said neutral buss means and said ground buss means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as defined in claim 10 including DC power supply means for supplying said storage battery means with DC energy, and DC load means connected between said ground buss means and said neutral buss means for supply by said storage battery means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as defined in claim 11 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping of both high and low sides of AC voltage and DC power.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources and hydro-electric DC sources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as defined in claim 10 including voltage regulator means for maintaining a charge level on said storage battery means and rectifier means for providing DC input to said regulator means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as defined in claim 14 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping at both AC power and DC power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as defined in claim 15 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources, hydro-electric DC sources and energy converters that produce DC power.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as defined in claim 10 including converter means for maintaining a charge level on said storage battery means and rectifier means for providing DC input to said converter means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as defined in claim 17 including ganged circuit breaker means ganged for simultaneous tripping.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said DC power supply means includes a device selected from the group consisting of fuel sourced electrical power generating means, photo-voltaic means, fuel cells, wind powered DC sources, hydro-electric DC sources and energy converters that produce DC power.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a power management system, the combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means for sharing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC from ground, said combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current, a common wiring system providing both AC power and DC power therethrough, said common wiring system sharing said AC and DC power separately or sharing both said AC power and DC power together at the same time, and means for controlling a voltage level of said DC power supply means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said DC power supply means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough, said means for controlling said voltage level of said DC power supply means being effective to maintain said AC conduction path to ground if a storage battery means is not utilized within the system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a power management system, the combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means for sharing both an AC conduction path to ground and a DC from ground, said combination of DC power supply means and filter capacitor means carrying AC power while isolating DC current, a common wiring system providing both AC power and DC power therethrough, said common wiring system sharing said AC and DC power separately or sharing both said AC power and DC power together at the same time, and means for controlling a voltage level of said DC power supply means, said filter capacitor means providing a capacitance sized to insure a low impedance path to ground at 60 Hz and said DC power supply means providing a capacitance sized to insure conduction to ground in either direction of current flow therethrough, said means for controlling said voltage level of said DC power supply means being effective to maintain said AC conduction path to ground if a storage battery means is not utilized within the system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 20 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level comprises a further DC power source means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level includes voltage regulator means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for controlling said voltage level includes converter means in which high frequency AC is generated as an intermediate process in the flow of energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a power management system as defined in claim 23 including special filter capacitor means for absorbing voltage spikes of said high frequency AC.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-27 | 2002-01-26 | 2002-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-27 | 2006-01-26 | 2006-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-27 | 2010-01-26 | 2010-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |