Patent ID: 7154722

Claim:
A power distribution system for supplying power to a first power load and a second power load, said power distribution system comprising: (a.) first and second power generation sources; (b.) a first distribution line connected to said first power generation source and said first and second power loads; (c.) a second distribution line connected to said second power generation source; (d.) a normally-open switch having an upstream side connected to said first distribution line and a downstream side connected to said second distribution line; (e.) a normally-closed first fault interrupter connected to said first distribution line between said first power load and said second power load, said first fault interrupter being operable to open when said first fault interrupter senses a downstream fault on said first distribution line; (f.) a normally-closed second fault interrupter connected to said first distribution line between said first fault interrupter and said second power load, said second fault interrupter being operable to open when said second fault interrupter senses an upstream loss of voltage on said first distribution line; (g.) a normally-closed third fault interrupter connected to said first distribution line between said second load and said normally-open switch, said third fault interrupter being operable to open when said third fault interrupter senses a downstream fault on said first distribution line; and (h.) a communication device communicatively connected to said third fault interrupter and said normally-open switch, said communication device being operable to send a notification signal to said normally-open switch when said third fault interrupter opens; (i.) wherein said normally-open switch closes if said normally-open switch senses a loss of voltage on said first distribution line and said normally-open switch has not received said notification signal from said communication device; and (j.) wherein when a fault occurs in said first distribution line between said first and second power loads: said first and second fault interrupters open; said third fault interrupter remains closed; and said normally-open switch closes, thereby supplying power from said second power generation source to said second power load through said third fault interrupter.