Communications: electrical – Systems – With specific power supply
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-24
2001-12-11
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
With specific power supply
C340S693100, C340S693200, C340S693500, C340S907000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329907
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an emergency power station and in particular to a stand-by electrical power installation that is self-activated during a power outage. The stand-by power installation has particular application for traffic control signals where a power failure may have serious consequences. In such an environment, the power station is unattended and subject to the elements including potential vandalism. Therefore, a power station of this type must comprise a stand-alone unit that has a protective housing and occupies minimal space, particularly in the intended preferred use as an auxiliary power supply for traffic control signals.
In any traffic management system, it is often critical to maintain traffic control at certain intersections or locations in the event of a municipal power failure. Ordinarily, when a power failure occurs, a traffic officer may be dispatched to the location of the signal failure to maintain the orderly flow of traffic, until the municipal power is resumed, or, in the case of a back-up system, a portable power generator is brought to the scene and connected to the control signals.
In addition to the substantial use of man-power under emergency conditions that may be pervasive during a power outage, there is an unavoidable delay before orderly control can be established. During this time an accident may occur that may cause serious injury, or at least, further add to the congestion that inevitably results from the operational failure of traffic control signals.
The advantage of a permanent, on-site, back-up power station is evident. However, to solve the problem of delay in attending to the outage, the emergency power station must be intelligent and able to activate itself when the power outage occurs, and deactivate when the primary power is resumed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The emergency power station of this invention is an intelligent auxiliary power supply for an outdoor installation where a prompt supply of emergency power is required for traffic intersection controller backup.
The emergency power station of this invention includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a generator mounted in a frame over a fuel tank. Mounted in the frame above the engine is a control box that includes the power switching circuitry and the control circuity for sensing a utility power failure, activating the operation of the engine and switching the connected traffic control signals from electrical connection with the primary power source of the municipal or utility power network to electrical connection with the auxiliary power generated by the engine and generator.
The emergency power station of this invention is self-contained in a tamper-proof cabinet with the components arranged in a vertical stack to minimize the effective footprint of the plant.
Additionally, the emergency power station includes a control system allowing manual testing in different modes of operation and a programmable timer system to allow a predetermined delay to occur prior to switching from utility power to generator power and/or back from generator power to utility power.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4608946 (1986-09-01), Tanaka et al.
Palmer Lyndon D.
Uischner Charles W.
Pope Daryl
Richard Esty Peterson Patent Attorney
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