Patent US5949153A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5949153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-engine controller
Assignee: Consolidated Natural Gas Service Co Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-06
•
Granted: 1999-09-07
•
Expires: 2017-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A controller and method for controlling two or more electrical generators to meet the applied load, varies the activation/deactivation sequence of the generators according to and instruction set selected by time or day or other discrete event. The controller and method also control discretionary loads via a request to run process which allows the generation system to be readied for the additional load.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond R. Tison
- 👤 Ross F. Nigro
- 👤 Robert J. Sprafka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:52
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/001; H02J3/0014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A controller for a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by said controller, said controller comprising: a processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to provide control signals to said power sources; a first operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit; a second operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; and a real-time clock accessible by said processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to receive time information from said clock, to select one of said parameter sets in response to said time information and to control said power sources according to said selected parameter set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A controller for a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by said controller, said controller comprising: a processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to provide control signals to said power sources; a first operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit; a second operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; and a real-time clock accessible by said processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to receive time information from said clock, to select one of said parameter sets in response to said time information and to control said power sources according to said selected parameter set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said parameter sets each include a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is adapted to control a plurality of discretionary loads, said loads each having a priority value included in said parameter sets, said processing unit being adapted to operate in accordance with said priority values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller according to claim 1, said processing unit being further adapted to activate/deactivate said power sources in response to a load requesting permission to run.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A controller according to claim 1, said processing unit being further adapted to activate/deactivate said power sources in response a pending fault in at least one power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said parameter sets each include a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A controller according to claim 6, wherein said sequences include different orders for activating and deactivating.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for controlling a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by a controller, said method comprising: providing a first operating parameter set; providing a second operating parameter set, said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; providing a real-time clock; and activating/deactivating said power sources in accordance with one of said parameter sets based on a time input from said real-time clock.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for controlling a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by a controller, said method comprising: providing a first operating parameter set; providing a second operating parameter set, said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; providing a real-time clock; and activating/deactivating said power sources in accordance with one of said parameter sets based on a time input from said real-time clock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said parameter sets each include a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said parameter sets each further include a priority value for each of a plurality of discretionary loads and said method further comprises controlling said loads in accordance with said priority values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising activating/deactivating said power sources in response to a load requesting permission to run.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising activating/deactivating said power sources in response to a pending fault in a source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said parameter sets each include a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said sequences include different orders for activating and deactivating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
161 words
A controller for a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by said controller, said controller comprising: a processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to provide control signals to said power sources; a first operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said first parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value; a second operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said second parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value, and said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; and a real-time clock accessible by said processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to receive time information from said clock, to select one of said parameter sets in response to said time information and to control said power sources according to said selected parameter set.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
A controller for a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by said controller, said controller comprising: a processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to provide control signals to said power sources; a first operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said first parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value; a second operating parameter set accessible by said processing unit, said second parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value, and said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; and a real-time clock accessible by said processing unit, said processing unit being adapted to receive time information from said clock, to select one of said parameter sets in response to said time information and to control said power sources according to said selected parameter set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A controller according to claim 15, wherein said sequences include different orders for activating and deactivating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller according to claim 15, said processing unit being further adapted to activate/deactivate said power sources in response to a load requesting permission to run.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller according to claim 15, said processing unit being further adapted to activate/deactivate said power sources in response a pending fault in a power source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A controller according to claim 15, wherein said processing unit is adapted to control a plurality of discretionary loads, said loads each having a priority value included in said instruction sets, said processing unit being adapted to operate in accordance with said priority values.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for controlling a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by a controller, said method comprising: providing a first operating parameter set, said first parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value; providing a second operating parameter set, said second parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value, and said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; providing a real-time clock; and activating/deactivating said power sources in accordance with one of said instruction sets based on a time input from said real-time clock.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for controlling a plurality of electrical power sources which can be activated or deactivated by a controller, said method comprising: providing a first operating parameter set, said first parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value; providing a second operating parameter set, said second parameter set including a sequence for activating/deactivating said power sources, a minimum reserve power value and a maximum excess power value, and said second parameter set being different from said first parameter set; providing a real-time clock; and activating/deactivating said power sources in accordance with one of said instruction sets based on a time input from said real-time clock.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said sequences include different orders for activating and deactivating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 20, further comprising activating/deactivating said power sources in response to a load requesting permission to run.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 20, further comprising activating/deactivating said power sources in response to a pending fault in at least one power source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said instruction sets each further include a priority value for each of a plurality of discretionary loads and said method further comprises controlling said loads in accordance with said priority values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3725675A
Cited
US4283634A
Cited
US4455614A
Cited
US4136286A
Cited
US4305129A
Cited
US4162526A
Cited
US4215276A
Cited
US4271473A
Cited
US4356402A
Cited
US4430573A
Cited
US4467216A
Cited
US4527071A
Cited
US4491737A
Cited
US4514642A
Cited
US4789789A
Cited
US4731547A
Cited
US4881184A
Cited
US5180923A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |