Automatic power adapter

Abstract

An electrical device for automatically combining two supply circuits with aligned or unaligned phases, into a single operational circuit, with an output load capacity totaling approximately the sum of the two lower supply circuits. The device, through a series of relays and contactors, internally senses the phase alignment of the supply circuits, chooses the correct path, and automatically connects the supply circuits to the load circuit without the need of manual switches, or additional adapters.

Description

This application is previously claimed by provisional patent application No. 60/644,872 filed Jan. 18, 2005

REFERENCE CITED

U.S. Patent Documents

4,204,243	May 1980	ROSS, ANTHONY	361/245
5,160,852	November 1992	CHARLES ET.AL	307/77
5,245,219	September 1993	ROMATZIK, JR. ET AL	307/71
5,302,857	April 1994	CHARLES ET AL	307/20

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electrical power adapters, more particularly to an automatic adapter for supplying electrical power to a vessel or vehicle load from a pair of combined lower amperage capacity sources, which can be connected to increase the current capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When marine craft are moored alongside a dock or seawall, electrical power is usually supplied from shore side power sources that may have circuits with lower amperage capacities that the craft require. It is common practice to use adapters of various types to connect two lower amperage circuits into one higher amperage circuit. The most basic types have no safety provisions, such as protecting the exposed blades of an unattached plug, which can cause dangerous shocks and burns, or protection against incorrect phase matching of the shore side power connections, which can result in shorts, blown fuses and or tripped circuit breakers. Some phase-sensing units do have the capabilities to avoid the potential safety hazards and shorts, but if the phases are not aligned properly at the shore-power supplies the units will not allow power through without additional adapters, or rewiring. Some phase-sensing units may have capabilities to switch the phases manually, but not automatically. The automatic power adapter has the features to safely avoid shocks and burns, to sense the alignment of the phases, and to automatically align the phases if necessary, and connect the circuits correctly without any additional switches or adapters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this device is to automatically and safely adapt two lower amperage capacity circuits into a single higher amperage capacity circuit, equaling the approximate sum of the two lower amperage circuits, such as two 240 volt 50 amp circuits into one 240 volt 100 amp circuit. This device is able to automatically adapt the two lower amperage capacity circuits into a high amperage circuit without any additional adapters, whether or not the phases of the lower amperage circuits are aligned. The present art senses the phases and will connect the circuits if the phases are aligned. However if the phases are not aligned the devices will not be able to connect the circuits without additional adapters or rewiring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 view of internal components.

FIG. 2 plug #1 (P1) inserted only

FIG. 3 plug #2 (P2) inserted only

FIG. 4 both plug #1 (P1) and plug # 2 (P2) inserted with polarities aligned.

FIG. 5 both plug #1 (P1) and plug # 2 (P2) inserted with polarities not aligned.

FIG. 6 external view

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates the internal configuration of the automatic power adapter.

Main components consisting of, but not limited to:

Three two or three pole contactors C28, C29, and C30

One timer T31

Five relays R23, R24, R25, R26, and R27

Three indicator lights

As an additional safety measure, contactors C29 and C30 can be equipped with a mechanical lockout or normally closed auxiliary contactor switches to eliminate the possibility of both contactors activating at the same time.

FIG. 2 of the drawings illustrates the following.

When plug #1 (P 1) is inserted into a matching receptacle or connector with two opposite pole 110-120-volt live lines, a neutral, and a ground, power will flow from line 1B to the coil of relay R 23 to the neutral of plug #1 (P 1) completing the 110-120 volt circuit, activating the relay, closing the normally open contacts 1, 2, and 3. Power will flow from line L1A, and from line L1B to L41 to illuminate the 240 volt lamp L 41. No further actions takes place unless plug # 2 (P2) is inserted into a matching receptacle or connector. Until that time, the plug # 2 (P2) will not have any power to any blades, therefore avoiding the possibilities of shocks or burns.

FIG. 3 of the drawings illustrates the following

When only plug #2 (P2) is inserted into a receptacle or connector with two opposite pole live lines, a neutral, and a ground, power will flow from line L2A, and from line L2B to L42 to illuminate the 240 volt lamp L 42. there will be no action because one of the leads to the timer, (T31) is wired to the open contacts 2 of relay R 23, which will not activate until plug # 1 (P1) is inserted into a live receptacle or connector, until that time plug #1 will not have power to any blades, therefore avoiding the possibilities of shocks or bums.

FIG. 4: of the drawings illustrates the following

1. Inserting P1 (plug #1) first and P 2 (plug #2) second, when the phases are aligned.

When P1 (plug #1) is inserted into a receptacle or connector with two opposite pole 110-120-volt live lines, a neutral, and a ground, power will flow from line L1A, and from line L1B to L41 to illuminate the 240 volt lamp L 41. Power will flow from line 1B of P1 to the 110-120 volt coil of relay R 23 to the neutral of P1 (plug #1) completing the 110-120 volt circuit activating the relay and closing the normally open contacts 1, 2, and 3. When P2 (plug #2) is inserted into a matching receptacle or connector with two opposite pole 110-120 volt live lines, a neutral, and a ground in which the phases are aligned with receptacle # 1 power will flow from line 2A to the closed contacts 2 of relay R26 on to T 31, a delay on make timer, and after a prescribed delay, on to the 110-120 volt coil of relay R 26, to the neutral of P2 (#2-plug), completing the 110-120 volt circuit actuating the relay R26 closing the normally open contacts 10, 11, and 12. Power will now flow from line 2A to closed contacts 1 in R23 to closed contacts 10 in R26 to the 240-volt coil of relay R25 to line 2B of P2 (#2 plug) activating R25 closing the normally open contacts 7, 8, and 9. Power from P1 (plug #1) line1A will flow through closed contacts 12 in R26 to the 240-volt coil of relay R24 thru closed contacts 3 in R23 to line 1B of P1 (plug #1) activating relay R24 closing the normally open contacts 4, 5, and 6. Power from P1 plug #1's line 1A will now flow through now closed contacts 7 in R25 to the 240-volt coil of contactor C28 to now closed contacts 6 in R24 on to P 1 (plug #1) line 1B actuating the contactor, closing contacts C16 and C 17. Current can now pass from plug #I line 1A through contacts C 16 in contactor C28 to the L1 terminal on 33 the high amperage connector, and from P1 (plug #1) line 1B through contacts C 17 in C28 on to terminal L2 on 33 the high amperage connector. Simultaneously power will flow from P1 (plug #1) line 1B to now closed contacts 4 in R24 to the 240-volt coil of contactor C29, to normally closed contacts 15 in R27, to now closed contacts 8 in R25 to P 2 (plug #2) line 2A, actuating the contactor. Power will now pass from P2 (plug #2) line 2A to through contacts C18 in C29 to the L1 terminal on 33 the high amperage connector, and from P2 (plug #2)'s line 2B to contacts C19 in C29 the L 2 terminal on 33 the high amperage connector, supplying the amperage capabilities of the sum of plug #1 and plug # 2 at 33 the high amperage connector. The 240-volt indicator lamp L22, attached to L1 and L2 lines will illuminate, indicating that power is available at 33 the high amperage capacity connector, and that the craft can now be powered through the device.

FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates the following:

When P1 (plug #1) is inserted into a receptacle or connector with two opposite pole 110-120-volt live lines, a neutral, and a ground, power will flow from line 1B to the 110-120 volt coil of relay R 23 to the neutral of P1 (plug #1) completing the 110-120 volt circuit activating the relay and closing the normally open contacts 1, 2, and 3. When P2 (plug #2) is inserted into a matching receptacle or connector with two opposite pole 110-120 volt live lines, a neutral, and a ground in which the phases are not aligned with receptacle #1, power will flow from line 2B to the now closed contacts 2 in R23 on to T 1 the timer, and after a prescribed delay, on to the 110-120 volt coil of relay R26, to the neutral of P2 (#2 plug) completing the 110-120 volt circuit activating relay R26, closing the normally open contacts 10, 11, and 12. Power will now flow from line 2B to closed contact 1 in R23 to closed contacts 10 in R26 to the 240-volt coil of relay R25 to line 2A of P 2 (#2 plug) activating relay R25 closing contacts 7, 8, and 9. Power from P1 (plug #1) line1A will flow through closed contacts 12 in R26 to the 240-volt coil of relay R24 thru closed contacts 3 in R23 to line 1B of P1 (plug #1) activating relay R24 closing the normally open contacts 4, 5, and 6. Power from P1 (plug #1) line 1A will now flow through now closed contacts 7 in R25 to the 240-volt coil of contactor 28 to now closed contacts 6 in R24 on to P 1 (plug #1) line 1B actuating the contactor, closing contacts C 16 and C 17. Power can now pass from plug #1 line 1A through contacts C 16 in contactor C28 to the L1 terminal on 33 the high amperage connector, and from P1 (plug #1) line 1B through contacts C 17 in C28 on to terminal L2 on 33 the high amperage connector. The 240-volt indicator lamp L22, attached to L1 and L2 lines will illuminate, indicating that power is available at 33 the high amperage capacity connector, and that the craft can now be powered through the device.

FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates the following

• P 1 A male plug for line 1A and line 1B
• P 2 A male plug for line 2A and line 2B
• C 34 Power cord for line 1A and line 1B
• C35 Power cord for line 2A and line 2B
• SR 38, SR 39, and SR 40 weatherproof strain reliefs.
• JB 43 A weatherproof enclosure large enough to house the internal components.
• L 22 Indicator lamp
• L 41 Indicator lamp
• L 42 Indicator lamp
• C 36 Output power cord
• 33 Output connector

Claims

1. A device with automatic phase sensing, and automatic phase aligning capabilities, able to sense if the phases are aligned, and if unaligned to automatically align the phases internally, and safely connect the two lower amperage capacity circuits of the same or similar voltages into a single higher amperage capacity circuit without significant voltage change, to equal approximately the sum of the two lower amperage capacity circuits, such as 2 (two) 240 volt 50 amp circuits into 1 (one) 240 volt 100-amp circuit, automatically, or if the phases are aligned, to safely connect the two aligned lower amperage capacity circuits of same or similar voltages into a single higher amperage capacity circuit without significant voltage change to equal approximately the sum of the two lower amperage capacity circuits, such as 2 (two) 240 volt 50 amp circuits into 1 (one) 240 volt 100-amp circuit, automatically.

2. An automatic adapter using (3) three or more contactors or (1) one or more reversing contactors to automatically switch or align the phases to adapt two lower amperage capacity circuits into a single higher amperage capacity circuit, equaling the approximate sum of the two lower amperage circuits.

3. The stated voltages and amperages are used as examples only, and in no way limits the scope of the invention to specific values. A mechanical or electrical lockout can be used with contactors C29 and C30 for extra protection against both C29 and C30 engaging at the same time. The timer used in the drawings requires only two wires. The device can be wired with several different types of timers for similar results.