Intelligent power distribution management for an on-board galley of a transport vehicle such as an aircraft

US7098555B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Glahn · Hamburg, DE
• Gerd Dueser · Hamburg, DE
• Axel Koenig · Wolfsburg, DE
• Mathias Finck · Hamburg, DE
• Joerg Reitmann · Harsefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 4, 2003
• Grant date: Aug 29, 2006
• Expiry date: Jun 8, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y04S20/222
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

In an aircraft galley, a power network distributes power from a source to electrical consuming devices (oven, water boiler, coffee machine, trash compactor, etc.). A control unit is connected to and can individually address each of the devices via a databus. The control unit compares the actual existing power consumption to a prescribed maximum value. If the actual consumption reaches the maximum value, the control unit calls up a power reduction procedure from a catalog in a database, and provides corresponding control signals to one or more of the devices to reduce the power consumption below the maximum value. The individual devices receive power in a time-sharing, power-sharing, or time-staggered manner. An intelligent distribution of available power resources avoids power overloads, and allows optimal utilization of all galley devices without limiting the normal catering process.