Abstract:
An adapter to maintain power may include a first switch to connect the power to a building, a first relay to cooperate with the first switch; a second switch to connect the power to the building, and a second relay to cooperate with the second switch. The building may include a high-voltage air conditioning system (HVAC), and the first relay may be spring and solenoid operated. The second relay may be spring and solenoid operated, and the adapter may include a closable housing. The first switch may switch between building power and a generator, and a second switch may switch between building power and the generator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates in general to generators used to provide power to residential or commercial heating, ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more particularly to an adaptor that allows quick connection of a residential or commercial heating, ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system to a commercially available electrical generator as well as a circuit control system to allow for simple operation. 
         [0005]    Presently practiced HVAC systems are directly connected electrically to a circuit breaker of the building (as used herein, building means and includes comparable commercial installations) electric system. Stated another way, presently practiced HVAC systems do not have plug-in connections, but are hard-wired to the breaker. In the event of a power outage due to storm or otherwise, buildings are without any means of circulating air in the building. Due to the hard-wired nature of the electrical supply, the HVAC system cannot be plugged into a commercially available breaker. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Presently, electrical power to HVAC systems in residential and commercial installations comprises hard-wired circuits between the circuit breaker box and the HVAC system. To switch to an emergency power source, such systems require a skilled professional to disconnect the wiring and to attach it in a safe manner to the emergency power source. The lack of a plug-in connection to an emergency power source in the prior art demonstrates the desirability of providing an adaptor for quick and direct connections between HVAC systems and commercially available electrical generators. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that allows commercially available electrical generators to be quickly connected to residential or commercial heating, ventilation air conditioning (HYAC) systems as well as a circuit control system to allow for simple operation. The present invention teaches the use of such a device. 
         [0009]    An adapter to maintain power may include a first switch to connect the power to a building, A first relay to cooperate with the first switch; a second switch to connect the power to the building, and a second relay to cooperate with the second switch. 
         [0010]    The building may include a high-voltage air conditioning system (HVAC), and the first relay may be spring and solenoid operated. 
         [0011]    The second relay may be spring and solenoid operated, and the adapter may include a closable housing. 
         [0012]    The first switch may switch between building power and a generator, and a second switch may switch between building power and the generator. 
         [0013]    The first relay may operate on 24 V, and the second relay may operate on 24 V. 
         [0014]    The first relay may operate on 120 V, and a second relay may operate on 120V. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment of the Invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the present invention as installed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternate embodiment of the present invention as installed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  depicts a method of installation of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the invention, adaptor  10  comprises a housing  12  containing a first switch  14 , a second switch  16 , a first relay  18 , a second relay  20  and a transformer  22 . The relays  18  and  20  along with the switches  14  and  16  may be composed of two physically separate relay and switch devices or may be composed of a physically integrated double relay and switch device. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , 24-volt relays are used. However, 120-volt relays may be used as well as is described in an alternate embodiment below. 
         [0023]    By way of appropriate connectors, first switch  14  is connected to building wire  24  and is further connected to adaptor lead wire  34 . Second switch  16  is connected to building wire  26  and is further connected to adaptor lead wire  36 . First switch  14  is further connected to plug wire  44 . Second switch  16  is further connected to plug wire  46 . 
         [0024]    Building wires  24  and  26  connect at the opposite ends to a standard building power source. Building wires  24  and  26  are standard building wires used in various commercial, residential, and industrial buildings, as well as other structures. In the prior art building wires  24  and  26  would connect directly to an HVAC system  50 . 
         [0025]    In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , relay  18  is electrically connected to transformer  22 . Transformer  22  is in turn electrically connected to plug wires  44  and  46 . Switch  14  is operable by relay  18 . In like manner switch  16  is operable by relay  20 . Relay  20  is electrically connected to transformer  22 . 
         [0026]    Plug wires  44  and  46  are connected at their ends distal from switches  14  and  16  to a standard, commercially available electrical plug  48 . Electrical plug  48  is of a type useable for connection to a standard, commercially available electrical generator  52 , including, for instance, a portable gasoline-powered generator. 
         [0027]    Adaptor lead wires  34  and  36  are connectable to an HVAC power connector  54  of a standard commercially available HVAC system  50 . 
         [0028]    Switches  14  and  16  are each double pole switches. Through appropriate connectors, switch  14  is connectable to building wire  24 , lead wire  34  and plug wire  44 . Relay  18  and switch  14  are operable to connect lead wire  34  to either building wire  24  or plug wire  44 . Relay  20  and switch  16  are operable to connect lead wire  36  with either building wire  26  or plug wire  46 . 
         [0029]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , switch  14  is shown connected to building wire  24  and switch  16  is shown connected to building wire  26 . 
         [0030]    In an exemplary embodiment, relays  18  and  20  are spring and solenoid-Operated. By way of example, a spring (not shown) normally biases an electrically-conductive switch lever (not shown) of switch  14  to an electrical connection with plug wire  44 . When no power is provided to switch  14  through building wire  24 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  14  to an electrical connection with plug wire  44 . Accordingly, when building power is on, switch  14  electrically connects building wire  24  to lead wire  34 . When building power is off, switch  14  electrically connects plug wire  44  to lead wire  34 . In like manner, a spring (not shown) normally biases an electrically-conductive switch lever (not shown) of switch  16  to an electrical connection with plug wire  46 . When no power is provided to switch  16  by way of building wire  26 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  16  to an electrical connection with plug wire  46 . Accordingly, when building power is on, switch  16  electrically connects building wire  26  to lead wire  36 . When building power is off, switch  16  electrically connects plug wire  46  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an exemplary embodiment, housing  12  is a closeable container. Transformer  22 , relays  18  and  20 , and switches  14  and  16  are contained within housing  12 . Plug lines  44  and  46  are connected to switches  14  and  16  respectively and extend through housing  12  to plug  48  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Opening  60  is provided in housing  12  to allow building wire lines  24  and  26  to be inserted there through for connection to switches  14  and  16 , Opening  62  is provided in housing  12  to allow lead wires  34  and  36  to extend there through for connection with switches  14  and  16 . 
         [0032]    In operation, electrical power to the HVAC system  50  is normally provided through the building power lines  24  and  26 . When power is available to switch  14  through building wire  24 , relay  18  biases switch  14  to connect building wire with lead wire  34 . Thus, relay  18  operates to maintain switch  14  at a setting wherein switch  14  electrically connects building wire  24  to lead wire  34 . When no power is available to switch  16 , relay  20  biases switch  16  to connect building wire  26  with lead wire  36 . Thus, relay  20  operates to maintain switch  16  at a setting wherein switch  16  electrically connects building wire  26  to lead wire  36 . In such configuration, power to the HVAC system  50  is provided from the building power source. 
         [0033]    Upon interruption of building power, electric power to lines  24  and  26  is interrupted. With no power available through lines  24  and  26 , power is not available to switches  14  and  16 , and relays  18  and  20 . In the event of power interruption to relay  18 , the relay will no longer be actively oriented to bias switch  14  to building wire  24 . The switch will then, without power, be biased to operate switch  14  to electrically connect plug wire  44  to lead wire  34 . Relay  20  operates switch  16  in a similar manner to electrically connect plug wire  46  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0034]    Accordingly, plug  48  may be connected to a generator  52  to provide power to the HVAC system  50 . 
         [0035]    Accordingly, switches  14  and  16  will be biased to connect lead wire  34  with plug wire  44  and lead wire  36  with plug wire  46  until building power is restored. Upon restoration of building power, switches  14  and  16  will again be powered by means of building lines  24  and  26 , allowing the solenoids of relays  18  and  20  to again bias switches  14  and  16  to provide electrical connection of building power line  24  to lead wire  34  and building power line  26  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this alternate embodiment building lines  24  and  26  are electrically connected to transformer  22  rather than plug lines  44  and  46  being connected to transformer  22 . Switch  14  is connected to plug wire  44  and is further connected to adaptor lead wire  34 . Second switch  16  is connected to plug wire  46  and is further connected to adaptor lead wire  36 . Switch  14  is further connected to building wire  24 . Switch  16  is further connected to building wire  26 . 
         [0037]    In the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , relays  18  and  20  are electrically connected to transformer  22 . Transformer  22  is in turn electrically connected to building wires  24  and  26 . Switch  14  is operable by relay  18 . In like manner switch  16  is operable by relay  20 . 
         [0038]    In this alternate embodiment when power is provided to transformer  22  by way of building wires  24  and  26 , relay  18  operates to push the switch lever of switch  14  to an electrical connection between building wires  24  and  26  and lead wires  34  and  36  respectively. When power is provided to transformer  22  by way of building wire  24 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  14  to an electrical connection with building wire  24 . Accordingly, when building power is on, switch  14  electrically connects building wire  24  to lead wire  34 . When building power is off, switch  14  electrically connects plug wire  44  to lead wire  34 . In like manner, relay  20  operates switch  16  to an electrical connection with plug wire  46 . When power is provided to transformer  22  by way of building wire  26 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  16  to an electrical connection with building wire  26 . Accordingly, when building power is off, switch  16  electrically connects plug wire  46  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0039]    While a transformer  22  is depicted in the exemplary embodiment, one skilled in the art would recognize that relays  18  and  20  could be powered from the building wires  24  and  26  or the plug wires  44  and  46  without voltage transformation by utilizing relays configured to operate on building voltage. In an alternate embodiment of the invention a 120-volt relay is used rather than a 24-volt relay. By using a 120-volt relay rather than a 24-volt relay the necessity for a transformer is removed. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  depicts this alternate embodiment of the invention. The building wires  24  and  26  are directly electrically connected to switches  14  and  16  respectively. In a like manner, plug wires  44  and  46  are directly electrically connected to switches  14  and  16 . 
         [0041]    Switches  14  and  16  are further connected to lead wires  34  and  36 . Plug wires  44  and  46  are electrically connected to relays  18  and  20 . Switch  14  is operable by relay  18 . In like manner, switch  16  is operable by relay  20 . 
         [0042]    In this alternate embodiment, when power is not provided to relays  18  and  20  by way of plug wires  44  and  46 , relays  18  and  20  operate to push the switch lever of switches  14  and  16  to an electrical connection between building wires  24  and  26  and lead wires  34  and  36  respectively. To further explain, when power is provided to relay  18  by way of plug wire  44 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  14  to an electrical connection with plug wire  44 . Accordingly, when the generator  52  power is on, switch  14  electrically connects plug wire  44  to lead wire  34 . When generator  52  power is off; switch  14  electrically connects building wire  24  to lead wire  34 . In like manner, relay  20  operates switch  16  to an electrical connection with either building wire  26  or plug wire  46 . When generator  52  power is provided to relay  20  by way of plug wire  46 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  16  to an electrical connection with plug wire  46 . Accordingly, when generator power is on, switch  16  electrically connects plug wire  46  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0043]    In another alternate embodiment of the invention, depicted in  FIG. 5 , using a relay 120-volt relay rather than a 24-volt relay, both building wires  24  and  26  as well as both plug wires  44  and  46  are directly connected to switches  14  and  16  respectively. Building wires  24  and  26  may be electrically connected to the relays  18  and  20 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  depicts this alternate embodiment of the invention. The building wires  24  and  26  are directly electrically connected to switches  14  and  16  respectively. In a like manner, plug wires  44  and  46  are directly electrically connected to switches  14  and  16 . 
         [0045]    Switches  14  and  16  are further connected to lead wires  34  and  36 . Building wires  24  and  26  are electrically connected to relays  18  and  20 . Switch  14  is operable by relay  18 . In like manner, switch  16  is operable by relay  20 . 
         [0046]    In this alternate embodiment, when power is provided to relays  18  and  20  by way of building wires  24  and  26 , relays  18  and  20  operate to push the switch lever of switches  14  and  16  to an electrical connection between building wires  24  and  26  and lead wires  34  and  36  respectively. To further explain, when power is provided to relays  18  by way of building wire  24 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  14  to an electrical connection with building wire  24 . Accordingly, when building power is on, switch  14  electrically connects building wire  24  to lead wire  34 . When building power is off, switch  14  electrically connects plug wire  44  to lead wire  34 , In like manner, relay  20  operates switch  16  to an electrical connection with either building wire  26  or plug wire  46 . When power is provided to relay  20  by way of building wire  26 , a solenoid (not shown) provides sufficient force to overcome the spring bias and push the switch lever of switch  16  to an electrical connection with building wire  26 . Accordingly, when building power is off, switch  16  electrically connects plug wire  46  to lead wire  36 . 
         [0047]    The invention includes a method of installation of adaptor  10  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The method includes: (1) a preparation step, (2) a disconnection step, (3) a connection step, and (4) a source power step. The preparation step consists of turning off the source power to the HVAC system  50 . The disconnection step consists of disconnecting the building wires  24  and  26  from the HVAC power connector  54 . The connection step consists of connecting building wires  24  and  26  to switches  14  and  16  respectively. Opposite to building wires  24  and  26 , lead wires  34  and  36  are then connected to switches  14  and  16  respectively. The opposite ends of lead wires  34  and  36  are then connected to HVAC system  50  at HVAC power connector  54 . The source power step consists of turning on the source power to the HVAC system  50 . 
         [0048]    Although various exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. No single embodiment is representative of all aspects of the present invention.