GB2461121A

GB2461121A - Power bus having first and second sub-buses

Info

Publication number: GB2461121A
Application number: GB0811594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Harrison
Original assignee: ROUND PEG CAMBRIDGE Ltd
Current assignee: ROUND PEG CAMBRIDGE Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-25
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-25
Also published as: GB0811594D0; GB2461121B

Abstract

An electrical power bus 30 comprises first and second sub-buses 44,48, each sub-bus being configured as a ring with both ends connected to a respective terminal for input of electrical power. Each sub-bus has respective first and second further terminals 36 for output of electrical power. The input terminal of the first sub-bus 44 may comprise a time switch 40 configured to connect and disconnect power to the first sub-bus at different times. The input terminal of the second sub-bus 48 may be configured for uninterrupted input of power to the second sub-bus.

Description

TITLE:

ELECTRICAL POWER BUS

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to electrical power supplies, particularly electrical power buses and associated power output connector assemblies.

BACKGROUND ART

Figure 1 shows a conventional ring main (or line') power bus 10 as employed in both residential and commercial properties to distribute power from a power supply (indicated at 8). Such buses often employ twin core and earth cabling to provide a live rail 14, a neutral rail 12 and an earth rail (not shown) to which an electrical appliance can be connected via a plug and socket 16. An on/off switch 18 on the socket allows the electrical connection on the live circuit to be broken, thereby cutting off power to the connected appliance.

However, operating the on/off switches can be time consuming, particularly where there are many sockets spread out across the home or office. As a result, many appliances -including printers, chargers for mobile phones, power tools, photocopiers, shredders and monitors -are left permanently switched on. Many other devices -such as televisions, computer monitors, videos, DVD players and digital TV converters (so-called set-top boxes') -are left on stand-by. The associated energy wastage can be considerable.

The present invention has an objective a reduction in this wasted energy.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical power bus comprising first and second sub-buses, each sub-bus being configured as a ring with both ends connected to a respective terminal for input of electrical power, each sub-bus having respective first and second further terminals for output of electrical power; the input terminal of the first sub-bus comprising a timed switch configured to connect and disconnect power to the first sub-bus at different times (hereafter timed live'); the input terminal of the second sub-bus being configured for uninterrupted input of power (hereafter permanently live') to the second sub-bus By virtue of the timed switch, any appliances connected to the first sub-bus can be disconnected from power for periods when they are not required, e.g. overnight, thereby saving energy that would otherwise be wasted. However, any devices connected the second sub-bus will remain connected to power.

The timed switch (also known simply as a timer') may be programmable, allowing the user to control the periods when appliances are connected to power. The bus may advantageously be configured to supply alternating current, which may also be at a voltage suitable for direct use by appliances, for example single phase 110-120V (in the Us) or 220-240V (in Europe).

The first and second sub-buses may share at least one common electrical conductor, which may be the neutral conductor.

The respective first and second further terminals of the first and second sub-buses may each be connected to a power connector, typically a socket, to which an appliance may be connected, typically by means of an associated plug.

The respective connectors may share a common housing. The respective connectors may be differentiated: they may have different colours and/or positions and/or orientations.

Alternatively, the respective first and second further terminals may be alternately connectable to a common connector by means of a selector assembly. The selector assembly may comprise a switch having a first position in which the socket is electrically connected to the first further terminal for power output from the first sub-bus and a second position in which the connector is electrically connected to the second terminal for power output from the second sub-bus. The switch may have a third position in which the connector is isolated from both first and second sub-buses. Alternatively, isolation may be effected by a further switch between the two buses and the connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a conventional ring main system.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical power bus in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 3A, C and E are perspective views of a power output connector assembly with a selector switch in various positions, whilst figures 3D, D and F show the corresponding electrical connections.

Figures 4A and C are perspective views of a power output connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention with a selector switch in different positions. Figures 43 and D show the corresponding electrical connections.

Figures 5A and B show a third embodiment of a power output connector and the corresponding electrical connections respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical power bus 30 in accordance with the present invention and having a terminal 32 for input of electrical power from supply 8 and at least one further terminal 36 for output of electrical power to an appliance indicated at 38. As is conventional, bus 30 is configured as a ring, i.e. with both ends of the bus connected to the electrical power supply, advantageously by the same first terminal 32. In the example shown, the input 8 is 220-240 V single phase alternating current, although other regimes -e.g ll0-120V as used in the US -are equally applicable.

In accordance with the present invention, terminal 32 comprises a timed switch 40 configured to connect and disconnect power to the bus at different times. In the example shown, the timed switch is connected between the power input 8 and the live rail 42. Situated e.g. in or nearby the electrical distribution board (not shown), such a timed switch can be set /programmed by the user to only provide power to the bus when required, e.g. through working hours in an office or to switch off the power overnight in the home.

In the embodiment shown, bus 30 comprises a first sub-bus 44 formed by live rail 42 and neutral rail 46 and a second sub-bus 48 formed by live rail 50 and neutral rail 46. Thus neutral rail 46 is common to both buses. In practice, the two sub-buses might be achieved by the use of 3 core and earth cabling (as distinct from the use of twin core and earth cabling in conventional ring mains) However, unlike the rail 42, which is connected to the supply 8 at first terminal 33, live rail 50 is connected directly at second terminal 34 to the live power input without interposition of a timed switch, thereby providing uninterrupted power to any appliances connected to that second sub-bus. Such connection of appliances is by means of a second further terminal (indicated at 60) and having connections to rails 46 and 50. Timed power output from the first sub-bus is by means of a first further terminal (indicated at 62) having connections to rails 46 and 42. In most implementations, power transfer from a further terminal to an appliance will be via a power connector, typically a socket into which a plug on an appliance can be inserted as is well known per se.

Several mechanisms are possible to determine whether an appliance is connected to the first (timed) or second sub-bus.

Figure 3A shows a power output connector assembly 70 having two 3-pin sockets 72, 72' arranged side-by-side in a common housing 73 and each with its respective rocker switch as is conventional. However, unlike the conventional 2-way on/off type switch of conventional socket assemblies, the switch assembly comprises a selector switch 74.

Moreover, the switch assembly is positioned so as to be operable even when the plug of an electrical appliance is engaged with the socket.

Figure lB shows the corresponding internal contacts in a first timed on' position (indicated by a broken coloured bar 76 in figure 3A) in which the respective power output connector 72 is electrically connected via connection terminal 80 to the first further terminal 62 of the first sub-bus 44.

Switch 74 also has the second permanently on' position shown in figure 3D (and indicated by a solid coloured bar 78 in figure 3C) in which the respective socket 72 is electrically connected via connection terminal 80 to the second further terminal 60 of the second sub-bus 48.

In the third off' position shown in figures 3E and F, the switch 74 electrically isolates the socket from both first and second further terminals 60,62.

The arrangement of figure 3 gives the user the option of switching any electrical appliance at the 13 amp socket to a permanently on' or a timed on' position. So for instance if the timed switch position is used, a mobile phone charger in the home will not consume energy overnight and a printer in the office will only be powered during working hours.

In the alternative embodiment of figure 4, two switches are used in series: a first, conventional, on/off isolation switch 90 and a second selector switch 92 to toggle between the timed live' bus (as shown in figures 4A,B) and the permanent live' bus (as shown in figures 4C,D).

In the embodiment of figure 5, separate connectors 100 (having pins 100-1,100-2,100-3) and 102 (having pins 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 could be used for connection to the first and second further terminals. As shown in figure 5A, the respective connectors may be differentiated by orientation, in particular they are inverted relative to one another, such that by inserting the plug upright or upside down, either the timed live' or permanent live' condition applies. Whilst each connector would require its own switch 104, 106, these could be operated by a common actuation member as indicated at 108 in figure 5A.

Alternatively, a double socket assembly of the kind shown in figure 3A could be used with for instance the left-hand socket wired to the timed live' sub-bus and the right-hand socket wired to the permanent live' sub-bus.

In a further embodiment (not illustrated), the additional wiring and sockets for the timed live' circuit can be physically different, for example having a different colour such as green. This is particularly suitable in an office environment, where trunking conduits and suspended ceilings facilitate this as a retro fit or new build.

It should be understood that this invention has been described by way of examples only and that a wide variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the invention has been illustrated by means of a double socket assembly, it will be appreciated that aspects of the invention are equally applicable to assemblies having just one socket.

Moreover, whilst the timed switch is advantageously activated from within a distribution board, control of the switch could be from within or external to the distribution board. Typically, the first timed live' sub-bus is connected to all outlets so as to provide a user with the choice of timed or permanent power at each socket.

However, it is also possible to hard wire certain sockets into either the permanent or the timed live bus so as to negate this choice, if desirable.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Electrical power bus comprising first and second sub-buses, each sub-bus being configured as a ring with both ends connected to a respective terminal for input of electrical power, each sub-bus having respective first and second further terminals for output of electrical power; the input terminal of the first sub-bus comprising a timed switch configured to connect and disconnect power to the first sub-bus at different times; the input terminal of the second sub-bus being configured f or uninterrupted input of power to the second sub-bus.
2. Electrical power bus according to claim 1, wherein the timed switch is programmable, thereby allowing a user to control the periods when any electrical appliance connected to the first sub-bus is supplied with power.
3. Electrical power bus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second sub-buses share at least one common electrical conductor.
4. Electrical power bus according to any preceding claim, wherein the respective first and second further terminals of the first and second sub-buses are each connected to a respective power connector to which an electrical appliance may be connected.
5. Electrical power bus according to claim 4, wherein the respective power connectors are oriented differently to one another.
6. Electrical power bus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the respective power connectors share a common housing but have different positions in the housing.
7. Electrical power bus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the respective power connectors have different colours.
8. Electrical power bus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bus comprises a power connector to which an electrical appliance may be connected and a selector assembly configured to connect said power connector to either said first or said second further terminal.
9. Electrical power bus according to claim 8, wherein the selector assembly comprises a switch having a first position in which the power connector is electrically connected to the first further terminal for power output from the first sub-bus and a second position in which the power connector is electrically connected to the second further terminal for power output from the second sub-bus.
10. Electrical power bus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the selector assembly is configured to be operable to isolate the power connector even when the output connector is connected to an electrical appliance.
11. Electrical power bus according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the switch has a third position in which the power connector is isolated from both first and second sub-buses.
12. Electrical power bus according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the selector assembly comprises a further, isolator switch between the first and second sub-buses and the power connector.