Electrically interlocked receptacles in power pedestals

A power pedestal is described. The power pedestal includes a plurality of receptacles that are configured to connect to external devices. The plurality of receptacles includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle of the plurality of receptacles. The first receptacle and the second receptacle are electrically interlocked with one another. The power pedestal includes a first circuit breaker connected to the first receptacle and a second circuit breaker connected to the second receptacle, and a shunt trip circuit that is configured to trip the first circuit breaker to disable power to the first receptacle of the power pedestal, responsive to the second circuit breaker associated with the second receptacle of the power pedestal being in an active state. Related devices and methods are also described.

FIELD

The present invention relates to power pedestals and may be particularly suitable for marine or recreational vehicle power pedestals.

BACKGROUND

Power pedestals are typically free-standing outdoor electrical units. Power pedestals can provide utility power distribution for target devices such as marine or recreational vehicles. Power pedestals may include one or more circuit breakers and power receptacles that can be used to provide power to the target devices. The power pedestals include one or more circuit breakers that provide fault protection for the power receptacles.

SUMMARY

It is noted that aspects of the inventive concepts described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Other operations according to any of the embodiments described herein may also be performed. These and other aspects of the inventive concepts are described in detail in the specification set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments may take many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

For marina or RV park construction projects, costs related to electrical wiring may be significant. Wiring costs may be reduced by using smaller gauge wires that are less expensive. Embodiments of the present inventive concepts arise from a recognition that when using smaller gauge wires to connect to a power pedestal, the maximum current draw of the power pedestal, and thus, the power and/or operating wattage, needs to be reduced. As described herein, the smaller wire gauges may be used to route power to the power pedestal using an interlocking mechanism that de-energizes unused sections of the pedestal. By de-energizing unused sections, such as by deactivating power receptacles, small gauge wires may be used to supply power to the power pedestal without exceeding the maximum load rating of the power pedestal.

As used herein, the term “vehicle” shall expressly include, but not be limited by, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, an air vehicle or another motor vehicle.

As used herein, the term “marine vehicle” shall expressly include, but not be limited by, any water-based vehicles, ships, boats, personal water craft or other vessels for travel on water, submarines, or other vessels for travel under water.

As used herein, the term “power pedestal” shall mean a pedestal structured to receive input power from input power terminals (e.g., utility power terminals) and output power to a number of output power receptacles held by the power pedestal.

Referring toFIG. 1, a power pedestal10such as, for example and without limitation, a marine and/or vehicle power pedestal, includes a tower30that houses a skeleton tower assembly20with various output power receptacles40, also referred to as “receptacles”, that are externally accessible. The power pedestal10may be configured with individual covers40cfor each receptacle40. The receptacles40may receive a plug or other connection to a vehicle, or any other power-driven device. The power pedestal10may include one or more circuit breakers35that are associated with the receptacles40. The power pedestal10may include a load center60for monitoring parameters such as current, power, etc. of the power pedestal10.

FIG. 2illustrates another view of the power pedestal10ofFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 2, a bus bar210may receive a power connection260from utility power terminals. The power connection260may include wires262,264,266, and268that are respectively connected to line terminal L1, neutral terminal N, line terminal L2, and ground terminal G of the bus bar210. Line terminals L1and L2may be connected to circuit breakers225and230by wires245and250. The circuit breakers225and230from line terminals L1and L2are connected to receptacle40. A device such as vehicle200may be connected by a cable205to plug into receptacle40.

FIG. 3is a circuit diagram of electrically interlocked receptacles in a power pedestal that includes a shunt trip circuit and an auxiliary switch. Referring toFIG. 3, bus bar395may be similar to the bus bar210ofFIG. 2. Bus bar395may receive power connections through wires391,392,393, and394that are respectively connected to line terminal L1, neutral terminal N, line terminal L2, and ground terminal G of the bus bar395. Neutral terminal N and ground terminal G may be connected by wires397and399to various receptacles320,350,360,370,380, and/or385as well as to ground fault relay340, and/or LEDs305,310. Line terminal L1and/or line terminal L2may be connected through circuit breakers354/358to receptacle350, through circuit breakers364/368to receptacle360, through circuit breaker374to receptacle370, through circuit breaker384to receptacle380, and/or through circuit breaker388to receptacle385. Although receptacles350and360are shown as each having two breakers on line terminals L1and L2, for ease of non-limiting discussion, a single circuit breaker may be discussed for each receptacle. However, various embodiments described herein may be applied to a single circuit breaker or multiple circuit breakers associated with each receptacle.

Still referring toFIG. 3, receptacle320may be electrically interlocked to receptacle350such that the overall power collectively drawn by these receptacles does not exceed a rated power of the power pedestal. A shunt trip circuit330and/or an auxiliary switch335may be associated with circuit breaker328and/or receptacle320. The shunt trip circuit330may trip circuit breaker328to disable power to the receptacle320of the power pedestal when circuit breaker354associated with the receptacle350of the power pedestal is in an active state. Auxiliary switch335is associated with circuit breaker328that corresponds to receptacle320. Although an auxiliary switch335and shunt trip circuit330are shown as corresponding to circuit breaker328and/or receptacle320, any of the receptacles and corresponding circuit breakers may have an associated shunt trip circuit and/or associated auxiliary switch. The auxiliary switch335may receive the status of the circuit breaker354corresponding to the receptacle350. The status of the circuit breaker354may be active or tripped to disable current flow through the circuit breaker, or may be inactive or conducting to allow current flow through the circuit breaker. Based on the switching state of auxiliary switch335, the shunt trip circuit330may trip circuit breaker328to disable power to receptacle320when the status of circuit breaker354indicates that the circuit breaker354is enabled to supply power to receptacle350. In other words, the operational section of the power pedestal that includes receptacle320is disabled when receptacle350has a device plugged in and is drawing power, to prevent the total power drawn by receptacle320and receptacle350from exceeding specified maximum power for the power pedestal, as supported by the gauges of wires391,392,393, and394that are supplying utility power to the power pedestal. An operation section of the power pedestal may include a receptacle and corresponding circuit breakers, shunt trip circuits, and/or auxiliary switches. The shunt trip circuit330may be powered by conductors attached to the circuit breaker328.

Still referring toFIG. 3, in some embodiments, multiple receptacles, such as, for example, receptacle350and receptacle360may be part of the same operational section of the power pedestal and may both have devices plugged in without exceeding the power rating of the power pedestal. For example, receptacle350and receptacle360may each be rated to supply 50 A at 250 V and receptacle320may be rated to supply 100 A at 250 V. The power pedestal may have a power rating corresponding to a maximum current of 125 A at 250 V. Both receptacles350and360may be operational at the same time without exceeding the power rating of the power pedestal. However, when either of receptacles350and360has a device plugged in, receptacle320may be disabled since operation of one of the receptacles350and360along with receptacle320may exceed the power rating of the power pedestal. Similarly, in some embodiments, receptacles370,380, and385may be grouped together into the same operational section of the power pedestal and have devices plugged into each of the receptacles370,380, and385without exceeding the power rating of the power pedestal.

FIG. 4is a circuit diagram of electrically interlocked receptacles in a power pedestal including contactors. Referring toFIG. 4, bus bar495may be similar to the bus bar210ofFIG. 2and/or bus bar395ofFIG. 3. Bus bar495may receive power connections through wires491,492,493, and494that are respectively connected to line terminal L1, neutral terminal N, line terminal L2, and ground terminal G of the bus bar495. Neutral terminal N and ground terminal G may be connected by wires497and499to various receptacles420,450,460,470,480, and/or485as well as to ground fault relay440, and/or LEDs405,410. Line terminal L1and/or line terminal L2may be connected through circuit breakers454/458to receptacle450, through circuit breakers464/468to receptacle460, through circuit breaker474to receptacle470, through circuit breaker484to receptacle480, and/or through circuit breaker488to receptacle485.

Still referring toFIG. 4, receptacle420may be electrically interlocked to receptacle450. A shunt trip circuit430and/or an auxiliary switch435may be associated with circuit breaker428and/or receptacle420. The shunt trip circuit430may trip circuit breaker428to disable power to the receptacle420of the power pedestal when circuit breaker454associated with the receptacle450of the power pedestal is in an active state. Specifically, upon a ground fault, circuit breaker454may trip via the inputs of the shunt trip circuit430to the circuit breaker454. Auxiliary switch435is associated with circuit breaker428that corresponds to receptacle420. The auxiliary switch435may receive the status of the circuit breaker454corresponding to the receptacle450. For example, auxiliary switch435may be connected to a contactor circuit444associated with receptacle450. Contactor436, connected to circuit breaker454, may include a coil that is charged when receptacle450is drawing power to a device. Similarly, contactor438, connected to circuit breaker458, may include a coil that is charged when receptacle450is drawing power to a device. Contactors436and438may be connected to the neutral terminal N of bus bar495. When the coil of contactor436is charged, the auxiliary switch435may be configured to disable power to receptacle420. In some embodiments, a shunt trip circuit430may trip circuit breaker428to disable power to receptacle420when the status of circuit breaker454indicates that the circuit breaker454is enabled to supply power to receptacle450. The operational section of the power pedestal that includes receptacle420is disabled when receptacle450has a device plugged in that is drawing power, to prevent the total power drawn by receptacle420and receptacle450from exceeding specified maximum power for the power pedestal, as supported by the gauges of wires491,492,493, and494that are supplying power to the power pedestal. Since the contactors436and438include coils, there may be a delay in the switching by the auxiliary switch435when using contactors436and/or438. Using the shunt trip circuit430with the auxiliary switch435may be advantageous when compared to using contactors436and/or438, since when the auxiliary switch435is activated by the shunt rip circuit430, there is little or reduced delay in response time.

FIG. 5is a block diagram of electrically interlocked receptacles in a power pedestal including a shunt trip circuit and an auxiliary switch, such as illustrated inFIG. 3. Referring toFIG. 5, receptacle505is connected to circuit breaker520, which is controlled by auxiliary switch535and shunt trip circuit515. Receptacle510is connected to circuit breaker530, which is controlled by auxiliary switch540and shunt trip circuit525. Auxiliary switch535associated with receptacle505is connected to and shares status information with auxiliary switch540, which is associated with receptacle510. In some embodiments, auxiliary switches535and540may be integrated with respective circuit breakers520and530. Auxiliary switch535may receive the status of the circuit breaker530corresponding to the receptacle510. Auxiliary switch535may selectively use switching paths536and538to indicate to shunt trip circuit515whether circuit breaker520should be active to allow power to receptacle505. The shunt trip circuit515may trip circuit breaker520to disable power to receptacle505when the status of circuit breaker530indicates that the circuit breaker530is enabled to supply power to receptacle510. In other words, the operational section of the power pedestal that includes receptacle505may be disabled when receptacle510has a device plugged in, to prevent the total power drawn by receptacle505and receptacle510from collectively exceeding specified maximum power for the power pedestal.

Still referring toFIG. 5, auxiliary switch540may receive the status of the circuit breaker520corresponding to the receptacle505. Auxiliary switch540may selectively use switching paths546and548to indicate to shunt trip circuit525whether circuit breaker530should be active to allow power to receptacle510. The shunt trip circuit525trips circuit breaker530to disable power to receptacle510, when the status of circuit breaker520indicates that the circuit breaker520is enabled to supply power to receptacle505. The operational section of the power pedestal that includes receptacle510is disabled when receptacle505has a device plugged in, to prevent the total power drawn by receptacle505and receptacle510from collectively exceeding specified maximum power for the power pedestal.

FIGS. 6 to 12are flowcharts of operations of the power pedestal10ofFIGS. 1 and 2and/or the circuits ofFIGS. 3 to 5. The power pedestal may include a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to supply power to external devices. Referring toFIG. 6, a first circuit breaker may be tripped by a shunt trip circuit to disable power to the first receptacle of the power pedestal when a second circuit breaker associated with the second receptacle of the power pedestal is enabled to supply power to the second receptacle, at block610. In other words, to prevent the power load for the power pedestal from exceeding a specified value, if a device is plugged into a second receptacle associated with the second circuit breaker, the first receptacle by disabled from supplying power to another device by the shunt trip circuit tripping the first circuit breaker that is associated with the first receptacle.

Referring toFIG. 7, an auxiliary switch associated with the shunt trip circuit and the first circuit breaker may receive the status of the second circuit breaker associated with the second receptacle, at block710. The status of the second circuit breaker indicates when the second circuit breaker is enabled to supply power to the second receptacle. The auxiliary switch associated with the second circuit breaker may be in communication with the auxiliary switch associated with the first circuit breaker in order to facilitate coordination to prevent surpassing the certified or rated power load of the power pedestal by supplying power to multiple devices that are plugged in.

Referring toFIG. 8, tripping the first circuit breaker by the shunt trip circuit may include tripping the first circuit breaker by the shunt trip circuit to disable power to the first receptacle, at block810. Tripping the first circuit breaker may occur responsive to the status of the second circuit breaker indicating that the second circuit breaker is enabled to supply power to the second receptacle. In other words, both circuit breakers will not be enabled to supply power at the same time, to avoid surpassing the certified power load of the power pedestal.

Referring toFIG. 9, a first auxiliary switch may include an input terminal and first and second output terminals. The input terminal of the first auxiliary switch may be connected to a second auxiliary switch corresponding to the second receptacle to receive the status of the second circuit breaker. The power pedestal may be configured to perform switching of the first auxiliary switch to the first output terminal or the second output terminal, based on the status of the second circuit breaker received at the input terminal, at block910. The shunt trip circuit may place the first circuit breaker in an active state when the input terminal is connected to the first output terminal, at block920. The shunt trip circuit may place the first circuit breaker in an inactive state when the input terminal is connected to the second output terminal, at block930.

Referring toFIG. 10, tripping the first circuit breaker by the shunt trip circuit may include tripping the first circuit breaker by the shunt trip circuit, responsive to a sum of a first power rating of the first receptacle and a second power rating of the second receptacle exceeding a threshold power rating for the power pedestal, when the second receptacle is supplying power to at least one of the external devices, at block1010. In other words, the collective power ratings of the receptacles in the power pedestal are monitored when devices are plugged in to prevent exceeding an overall power rating of the power pedestal.

Referring toFIG. 11, the second receptacle may include a two or more additional receptacles that correspond to two or more respective circuit breakers. The first circuit breaker may be tripped by the shunt trip circuit to an inactive state responsive to a sum of a first power rating of the first receptacle and a collective power rating of the two or more of additional receptacles exceeding a threshold power rating for the power pedestal, when the additional receptacles are supplying power to at least one of the external devices, at block1110. In this case, the two or more additional receptacles may be active at a same time, responsive to the collective power rating of the additional receptacles being below the threshold power rating for the power pedestal. An overall power rating of the power pedestal may be the greater of the first power rating of the first receptacle and the collective power rating of the two or more of additional receptacles.

Referring toFIG. 12, power at the first receptacle and the second receptacle may be received from a bus bar, at block1210. The bus bar may correspond to bus bar210ofFIG. 2, bus bar395ofFIG. 3, and/or bus bar495ofFIG. 4. The bus bar may include one or more power lines electrically connected to the circuit breakers associated with the receptacles. The bus bar may be coupled to an external power source by one or more wires having respective wire gauges that are insufficient for carrying a load of the sum of the power ratings of the available receptacles. The smaller gauge wires routed to a power pedestal reduces the maximum current draw of the power pedestal, thereby limiting power and/or operating wattage. Various embodiments described herein allow the smaller wire gauges to be used to route power to the power pedestal by using an interlocking mechanism that de-energizes unused operational sections of the pedestal.

FIG. 13is a block diagram of a control circuit for a power pedestal. The control circuit for the power pedestal may be integrated with various components of the power pedestal or be located external to the power pedestal. Referring toFIG. 13, control circuit1300may include a network interface1320for communicating with the circuit breakers, shunt trip circuits, auxiliary switches and/or other components, according to various embodiments described herein. A processor circuit1302may perform various operations described herein. The processor circuit is connected to a memory circuit1310that includes computer readable program code1312that implements various operations described herein. Processor circuit1302is connected to a transceiver1330that communicates with circuit breakers, shunt trip circuits, auxiliary switches and/or other components, according to various embodiments described herein. Transceiver1330may communicate with various components through a wired connection or through a wireless connection using antenna1340.

Further Embodiments

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, and elements should not be limited by these terms; rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present inventive concepts.

As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “comprises”, “include”, “including”, “includes”, “have”, “has”, “having”, or variants thereof are open-ended, and include one or more stated features, integers, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) that runs on a processor such as a digital signal processor, which may collectively be referred to as “circuitry,” “a module” or variants thereof.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of various example combinations and subcombinations of embodiments and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination. Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without substantially departing from the principles described herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope.