Apparatus for controlling electrical power consumption
US4349879A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1980 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S50/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an electrical power distribution system, a consumer has a control unit comprising a plurality of solid state switches in supply leads to a plurality of separate load circuits, a microprocessor responsive to the magnitude of the total current drawn by the consumer from the supply and arranged to control the various switches so as to limit the total current or power in accordance with a priority program set into the microprocessor. The consumer can thus control the manner of use of the supplied power within a maximum demand limit. This overall maximum demand limit may be predetermined in accordance with an agreed supply tariff or may be remotely controlled by the utility. Preferably two microprocessors with associated control switches are employed, one being controlled by the utility and being associated with or forming part of the energy consumption metering unit and serving to limit the maximum demand and the other being programmed by the consumer to control priority of supplies to individual load sub-circuits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.