Four-way automatic transfer switch power topology

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10978906-B2
Application number	US-201816201573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2018
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

Systems and apparatuses include a mesh network for power distribution. The mesh network includes a plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches. Each four-way automatic transfer switch includes a common pole, a first pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a first switching device, a second pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a second switching device, a third pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a third switching device, and a fourth pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a fourth switching device. The common pole of a first interconnected four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to provide power to a corresponding load, and the common poles of two or more of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches are structured to receive power from corresponding power sources.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mesh network for power distribution, comprising:
a plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches, each four-way automatic transfer switch including
a common pole,
a first pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a first switching device,
a second pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a second switching device,
a third pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a third switching device, and
a fourth pole selectively coupled to the common pole with a fourth switching device,
wherein the common pole of a first interconnected four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to provide power to corresponding loads,
wherein the common poles of two or more second interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches are structured to receive power from corresponding power sources, and
wherein the common pole of a second four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to receive power from a first power source so that the second four-way automatic transfer switch operates in a reverse power arrangement.

2. The mesh network of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with each of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches to control actuation of the switching devices.

3. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein operation of the switching devices allows each of the common poles to be selectively connected to or isolated from the mesh network.

4. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the common pole of the second four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to receive power from a generator set,
wherein the common pole of a third four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to receive power from a utility, and
wherein the common pole of a fourth four-way automatic transfer switch of the plurality of interconnected four-way automatic transfer switches is structured to provide power to a first load.

5. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein each of the first switching device, the second switching device, the third switching device, and the fourth switching device are independently actuatable between an open position and a closed position.

6. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein isolation of one common pole from the mesh network does not interrupt service within the remaining common poles of the mesh network.

7. A system, comprising:
a first four-way automatic transfer switch including a first common pole structured to be coupled to one of a load and a power source;
a second four-way automatic transfer switch interconnected with the first four-way automatic transfer switch, the second four-way automatic transfer switch including a second common pole selectively coupled to the first common pole, and structured to receive power so that the second four-way automatic transfer switch operates in a reverse power arrangement;
a third four-way automatic transfer switch including a third common pole structured to be coupled to one of a load and a power source, the third common pole selectively coupled to the second common pole;
a fourth four-way automatic transfer switch including a fourth common pole structured to be coupled to one of a load and a power source, the fourth common pole selectively coupled to the first common pole;
a fifth four-way automatic transfer switch including a fifth common pole structured to be coupled to one of a load and a power source, the fifth common pole selectively coupled to the fourth common pole and the second common pole; and
a sixth four-way automatic transfer switch including a first common pole structured to be coupled to one of a load and a power source, the sixth common pole selectively coupled to the fifth common pole and the third common pole.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a controller in communication with each of the four-way automatic transfer switches to control actuation thereof.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the four-way automatic transfer switches includes
a first pole selectively coupled to a corresponding common pole with a first switching device,
a second pole selectively coupled to the corresponding common pole with a second switching device,
a third pole selectively coupled to the corresponding common pole with a third switching device, and
a fourth pole selectively coupled to the corresponding common pole with a fourth switching device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein operation of the switching devices allows each of the common poles to be selectively connected to or isolated from the mesh network.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first switching device, the second switching device, the third switching device, and the fourth switching device are independently actuatable between an open position and a closed position.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein isolation of one common pole from the mesh network does not interrupt service within the remaining common poles of the mesh network.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first four-way automatic transfer switch, the second four-way automatic transfer switch, the third four-way automatic transfer switch, the fourth four-way automatic transfer switch, the fifth four-way automatic transfer switch, and the sixth four-way automatic transfer switch are sized to accommodate a bus power demand.

14. A method of interconnecting a mesh network, comprising:
providing a plurality of automatic transfer switches, each automatic transfer switch including a common pole and a plurality of transfer poles selectively coupled to the common pole;
coupling the transfer poles together to form the mesh network;
coupling each common pole to one of a power source or a load; and
providing a first sub-network of automatic transfer switches and a second sub-network of automatic transfer switches, the first sub-network of automatic transfer switches being electrically isolated from the second sub-network of automatic transfer switches via manipulation of the transfer poles.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising opening switching devices associated with the transfer poles of a first automatic transfer switch to isolate the common pole of the first automatic transfer switch from the mesh network.

16. The method of claim 14 , controlling operation of the plurality of automatic transfer switches with a controller.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein providing the plurality of automatic transfer switches includes providing nine automatic transfer switches.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sizing the plurality of automatic transfer switches to accommodate a bus power demand of the mesh network.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of automatic transfer switches includes four transfer poles.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing power through the mesh network from one or more power sources to a high current demanding load across multiple paths of connecting automatic transfer switches.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising isolating the common pole of a first automatic transfer switch from the mesh network by opening the transfer poles

Assignees

• Cummins Power Generation Ip

Inventors

• Beaucage Timothy R
• Delago Julie M

Classifications

• H02J2105/51

  according to a condition being electrical · CPC title

• H02J3/14 Primary

  by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading · CPC title

• H02J9/068

  Electronic means for switching from one power supply to another power supply, e.g. to avoid parallel connection · CPC title

• Y04S20/222

  Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving · CPC title

• Y02B70/30

  Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level · CPC title