GB2345808A - Push button controlled distribution terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for supplying energy and/or fluid to a number of distribution terminals in a marina or caravan park so that a vehicle may be supplied with power from the mains. The system has an energy/fluid supply network to supply energy to each terminal depending on the actuation of a control means at the terminal which is connected to a control network. Actuation of the control means permits energy/fluid supply to the terminal power sockets 7, tap 12 and begins a timer to automatically prevent supply of energy/fluid after a preset amount of time if the control means is not actuated again. Actuation can be by push button switch 8, key (the slot for which is labelled 9), magnetic or electronic key card and is intended to ensure that energy/fluid is not wasted in vehicles left unattended.

Description

2345808 The invention relates to an energy and/or fluid distribution post,

for example one made available in a harbour for supplying a pleasure vessel moored for example to a ring.

In yachting harbours and marinas, it is common practice to make available to each moored vessel a post carrying at least one electrical current socket and, optionally, a water tap. The electrical circuit is protected by a calibrated circuit breaker which limits the rating of the current output.

The cost of the electrical consumption is generally included in the fixed price paid by the yachtsman for the occupancy of a mooring berth, this fixed price itself depending on the length of the vessel and on the time of occupancy of the location. This mode of management simplifies accounting but is inequitable since it does not take into account the actual amounts consumed, even though some yachtsmen consume a great deal of energy, whilst others consume very little.

High consumption results in particular -from the continuous supplying of electrical heaters or battery chargers. This practice is not permitted but it is difficult to control, equally when the yachtsman is on the vessel as when he is not.

To this it should be added that in order to avoid f ires in the absence of the yachtsman, due to a fault in the electrical circuit, regulations prohibit the vessel from being connected to the mains during this absence, but that, by virtue of their structures, present-day posts allow this electrical connection to be maintained.

To remedy this, proposals have been made for posts whose meters are linked to a computer management 3S assembly which records the power actually consumed by each vessel and outputs a bill related to this consumption. These computer assemblies are expensive, in terras of investment and running costs and employ numerous electronic means which, in a marine setting, - 2 that is to say under exposure to sea air, are fragile and of doubtful reliability.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this, by providing a distribution post which interrupts the distribution in the event of prolonged absence of the yachtsman, and thus limits consumption whilst promoting compliance with legislation.

The invention therefore relates to a distribution post comprising as in FR-A-2 676 247 at least one internal member for coupling to an energy or fluid supply source, at least one external coupling member for an exterior and removable joining element linking the post to the site of use, and an internal network linking the internal coupling member to.each of the external coupling members, the said Internal netwoz coWrising means suitable for pezzaitting or intezzupting the distribution of energy or of fluid and means having tlme-de2ay operation driving these latter.

In the post according to the invention, each internal network is divided, on the one hand, into a main energy or fluid transport network comprising branches going to each of the external coupling members and, on the other hand, into a secondary control network, and in that each of the branches of the main network comprises means suitable for permitting or for interrupting the distribution of energy or fluid, whilst the secondary control network is a low-voltage electrical network and comprises means having timedelay operation driving the means permitting distribution, these latter means being associated with at least one control member requiring cyclic intervention, according to a cycle defined by the duration of time delay.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the means having time-delay operation are each associated with a control member requiring cyclic intervention according to a cycle defined by the duration of time delay.

Thus, whether it be a matter of obtaining energy or a fluid and for example water, the yachtsman must firstly actuate the control member of the means having time-delay operation in order to obtain, by way of this means having time-delay operation, the hooking up of the internal coupling member with the external coupling member or members. The supply network is thus closed for a duration which depends on the operating duration of the time-delay means, and which is for example of the order of twenty-four hours for the time delay of an electrical network, but which may be less f or the time delay of a network for f luid, such as water. Thus, when the yachtsman is absent, he cannot re-engage the time delay means, so that his docked vessel can no longer be supplied, thereby limiting excessive consumption and eliminating any risk of fire of electrical origin.

in one form of execution of the invention, the main network is an electrical network and each of its branches supplies a current socket and carries a power switch. In another form of execution, the main network comprises a water feed supplying an external coupling and carries an electrovalve. 25 it is specif ied that one and the same post can comprise both an energy distribution network and a fluid distribution network. in a preferred form of execution, each branch of the main network is associated with a branch of the secondary electrical network and this branch comprises a time-delay make relay driving the supply for the means permitting distribution, and a member f or controlling the closure of the supply circuit of this relay.

According to the forms of implementation, the control member is either a push buttonactuating a contact mounted on the supply circuit of this relay, or a normal, magnetic or electronic key-actuated housing.

in this configuration, the intervention of t he yachtsman on this member controls the closing of the supply circuit of the time-delay relay, which closes the power circuit supplying the external coupling members consisting of standard current sockets, or a fluid coupling, Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing by way of example a form of execution of a distribution post according to the invention, comprising an energy distribution network and a fluid distribution network.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post.

is Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through II.11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents the electrical diagram of a form of execution of the internal network of the post.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the post according to the invention is composed of a housing 2 whose front wall 2a is traversed by an opening 3 shut off by a door 4. This door is locked in the closure position by two key-based locks 5. In its two lateral walls 2b, the housing 2 comprises recesses 6 in which are disposed current sockets 7 constituting external coupling members for the electrical network. In one of the recesses there is also disposed at least one member for operating the post, namely either a push button 8, or a normal, magnetic or electronic key reader 9, and even a key-actuated switch. One of the lateral walls 2b comprises a recess 10 in which is disposed an exterior coupling member 12 for a water hose. As shown by the diagram of Figure 3, the housing 2 contains internally a member 13 for coupling to the external electric circuit 14, a member 15 for coupling to earth, and a member 16 for coupling to the urban water network.

The various current sockets 7 are supplied by the branches 17a, 17b, 17c of the main power network 18 originat-ing from the coupling member 13. To this main network 18 is also connected a voltage step-down transformer 19 supplying a secondary electrical control network 20 divided into branches 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Each of the electrical coupling members 7 5 comprises, on its supply circuit 17a, 17b or 17c, a power switch 22 which is supplied by a branch 20a, 20b, 20c of the control network. on this branch is disposed a make contact 24 which can be actuated by a time-delay make relay 25. The supply circuit 26 of this relay carries, according to the power allotted to the sockets, either a push button 8, or a normal, magnetic or electronic key reader 9, or a key- actuated switch (not represented).

When the housing also controls the distribution of a fluid and for example water, the feed 27, %the member 16, for coupling to the urban network, to the external coupling 12, carries an electrovalve 28 whose electrical supply network 17d is dependent upon a switch 22 driven by a time-delay relay 25 which can be actuated by a push button 8, the two push buttons both being disposed on the branch 20d of the secondary control network.

Each of the various secondary supply networks 1-17a to 17d is protected by a differential circuit breaker 29 whose characteristics depend on the nominal rating of each current socket 7. These circuit breakers are disposed on the frontage of the housing 2, behind the door 4, and are accessible via a hatch 30 disposed in this door.

With this post, the operating of any one of the external coupling members 7 or 12 requires human intervention consisting either in pressing the corresponding push button 8, or in introducing a T magnetic or electronic key 9a into the reader 9. This action closes the supply circuit of the corresponding time-delay relay 25. This has the consequence of engaging the time delay and of closing the supply circuit of the switch 22, which in turn closes the secondary power network 17a to 17d. under these - 6 conditions, any electrical cable connected to any one of the sockets 7, and likewise any water hose connected to the coupling 12 can be supplied via the post for the duration of the time delay and according to a cycle which depends on this time delay. The latter can for example be twentyfour hours for the electrical supply circuits, and of the same duration or lesser duration for the water network.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the post in accordance with the iizventicm, the means 25 having time-delay operation are each associated with a control member 8, 9 reauiring cyclic intervention according to a cycle defined by the duration of time delay.

In the form of execution represented, the branches 17b, 17c and 17d respectively supplying sockets 7 of low electrical power, for example 6 amperes, and the electrovalve 28 of the water network, are freely accessible since it is sufficient to press the corresponding push button 8, wh.-Alst the branch 17a supplying a socket 7 being capable of outputting a higher power, for example 16 amperes, comprises a control member limiting its accessibility to the sole possessor of the corresponding normal or electronic key, but it is obvious that, depending on the application, all these control means disposed in the same housing 2 can be freely accessible or have limited access, provided that their actuation triggers the operation of the closure means of the secondary power networks 17a to 17d through the time-delay means 25. As compared with present-day distribution posts, the post according to the invention makes it possible: 35 - to limit wastage by countering, in the absence of the yachtsman, any continuous supplying of heating resistor elements and battery chargers, to comply with safety rules, by interrupting the supply on the expiry of the operating cycle, in the absence of the yachtsman, to reduce the electrical consumption of the 5 manager facility, - and in respect of water distribution, to limit wastage.

The post in accordance with the invention also has the advantage that the user actuating the control members 8, 9 runs no risk of coming into contact with a high, dangerous voltage insofar as he intervenes only on components of the low-voltage secondary electrical network 20.

8 CrAIMS 1. Energy and/or fluid distribution post comprising at least one internal member (13 to 16) for S coupling to an energy or fluid supply source, at least one external coupling member (7, 12) for an exterior and removable joining element linking the post to the site of use, and an internal network (17a to 17d) linking the internal coupling member (13, 16) to each of the external coupling members (7, 12), corresponding thereto, the said internal network (I 7a to 17d) comprisinq means (22, 28) suitable for permlttng or interrupting the distribution of energy or of fluid and means (25) having time-delay operation driving these latter (22, 28) characterized in that the internal network is divided, on the one hand, into a main energy or fluid transport network comprising the branches (17a to 17d) going to each of the external coupling members (7, 12) and, on the other hand, into a secondary control network (20), and in that each of the branches (17a to 17d) of the main network comprises a means (22, 28) suitable for permitting or for interrupting the distribution of energy or fluid, whilst the secondary control network (20) is a low-voltage electrical network and comprises the means (25) having time-delay operation driving the means (22, 28) permitting distribution, these latter ineans (25) being associated with at least one control member (8, 9) requiring cyclic intervention, according to a cycle defined by the duration of time delay.

Claims (1)

1. 2. Post according to Claim 1, characterized in that: the means ' (2.5)

   having time-delay operation are each associated with a control member (8, 9) requiring cyclic intervention according to a cycle defined by the duration of time delay.

   3. Post according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main network comprises an electrical network and each of its branches (17a to 17c) supplies a current socket (7) and carries a power switch (22).

   4. Post according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main network comprises a water feed (27) supplying an external coupling (12) and carries an electrovalve (28).

   5. Post according to any one of Claims I to 4, characterized in that each branch (17a to 17d) of the main network is associated with a branch (20a to 20d) of the secondary electrical network and this branch comprises a time-delay make relay (25) driving the supply for the means (22, 28) permitting distribution, and a member (8, 9) for controlling the closure of the supply circuit of this relay.

   6. Post according to Claim 2, characterized in that the control member is a switch actuated by- a push button (8).

   7. Post according to Claim 2, characterized in that the control member is a normal, magnetic or electronic key-actuated switch (9)_