WO2015071819A1

WO2015071819A1 - Automatic supply devices

Info

Publication number: WO2015071819A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/065940
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tana WONDERGEM
Original assignee: Wondergem Tana
Priority date: 2013-11-18
Filing date: 2014-11-11
Publication date: 2015-05-21
Also published as: GB2520318B; GB201320274D0; GB2520318A

Abstract

A wall-mounted electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity-supplying outlet socket panel 1, with a separate additional switch 4. With said additional switch 4, the consumer will have enable/disable control over said electronic-circuitry to automatically connect or disconnect electrical power from said electricity-supplying outlet socket 5. If said additional switch 4, is set enabled, said electronic-circuitry measures whether the mains supply power voltage frequency has reached a pre-defined value, thus indicating the power grid is struggling to maintain a steady frequency, and therefore a normal power level. When said pre-defined value is obtained, to help stop power cuts in the local area of said socket panel 1, said electronic-circuitry will automatically disconnect the electrical power from said electricity-supplying outlet socket 5. At the point said voltage frequency returns to a normal steady level, said electronic-circuitry will automatically connect electrical power to the electricity-supplying outlet socket 5.

Description

DESCRIPTION:

In overview, and without limitation to the scope of the invention described in the claims that follow, an embodiment of the invention includes a wall-mounted electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity-supplying outlet socket panel with a separate additional switch. Said additional switch controls the electricity flow to said electronic-circuitry. With said additional switch, the present invention will offer the consumer enable/disable control over said electronic-circuitry to

automatically connect or disconnect electrical power from said electricity-supplying outlet socket. If said additional switch is set enabled, said electronic-circuitry measures whether the mains supply power voltage frequency has reached a pre-defined value, thus indicating the power grid is struggling to maintain a steady frequency, and therefore a normal power level. When said predefined value is obtained, to help stop power cuts in the local area of said socket panel, said electronic-circuitry will automatically disconnect the electrical power from said electricity- supplying outlet socket. At the point said voltage frequency returns to a normal steady level, said electronic-circuitry will automatically connect electrical power to the electricity-supplying outlet socket. When said additional switch is set disabled, then no electrical power will be used by said electronic-circuitry. Said socket panel will however still supply mains electricity to its outlet with said additional switch set to the disabled position. When said additional switch is set to the enabled position, said electronic-circuitry, via a plug sensor, will only use electrical power if there is an electrical plug inserted to said electricity- supplying outlet socket. Patent number GB 2443904 discloses a similar device to minimise energy usage.

For the wall-mounted electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity- supplying single or multiple outlet socket panel 1, versions of the present invention, as shown in Figure la & lb, each outlet socket 5, automatically switching state can individually be enabled or disabled by its separate switch 4. This allows the consumer to control as many of said outlet sockets 5, to automatic connect or disconnect electrical power to said outlets as required. Either of said outlet socket panels 1, may be attached to a standard property electrical wall back box by means of fixing screws 3.

Although not necessary, if the consumer prefers the style with, a manually operable electrical power on/off switch 2, is present on the face of the said socket panel 1, for as many electricity outlet sockets 5.

The wall-mounted electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity-supplying outlet socket panel 1, of the present invention can also come in other forms such as an external electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity-supplying plug adapter outlet, with 8, or without 6, a trailing cable 9, and an electrical plug 10, as shown in Figure 2b & 2a respectively. Each embodiment of said plug adapter will have one enable/disable switch 4, or one per outlet socket 5, and although not necessarily, if the consumer prefers the style with, a manually operable electrical power on/off switch 2, for as many electricity outlet sockets 5, that said plug adaptor has.

To help describe the operation of the present invention, Figure 3 shows the schematic block diagram of the internal circuitry of a single outlet socket panel 1. The socket panel 1, is connected to mains power 11, e.g. from a domestic ring main. Said electrical mains power 11, is supplied to a outlet socket 18A (No. 5 in Figures la/b and 2a/b), via a relay 16 A, and a manually operable on/off switch 17A (No. 2 in Figures la/b and 2a/b), mounted on the face of the said socket panel 1. Said relay 16A, (e.g. a solid state or electromechanical relay, or another signal-actuation switch) is normally in a closed configuration, allowing electrical power to flow via said manually operable on/off switch 17 A, to said outlet socket 18 A. In normal operation, the said socket panel 1, operates effectively as a normal mains socket panel found in properties around the world. An electrical plug sensor 12A, is provided, that allows or disallows electrical power to be delivered, via an override switch 13 A (No. 4 in Figures la/b and 2a/b), to the remaining circuitry, as indicated. Said plug sensor 12 A, detects the presence of an electrical plug (not illustrated) inserted to said outlet socket 18 A, either by mechanical actuation of one of the electrical plug's electrical terminal pins, by a portion of the body of the electrical plug, or by a suitable proximity detector such as a metal detector. If an electrical plug is present in said outlet socket 18A, said plug sensor 12A, will allow electrical power to flow from said mains power connection 11, to the manually operable override switch 13 A. If said override switch 13 A, is set to the disabled, open state, then no electrical power will flow from said plug sensor 12A, to the frequency comparator 14. However, if said override switch 13 A, is set to the enabled, closed state, then electrical power will flow to said frequency comparator 14. Said frequency comparator 14, will then compare the mains power frequency value to a pre-defined frequency value set within the comparator. If the mains power frequency remains above the pre-defined frequency set within said comparator 14, then there will be no change to the following circuitry, and said socket panel 1, will remain in its normal on state where electrical power will be available at said outlet socket 18 A. When the mains power grid in the local area of the socket panel 1, starts suffering from high electrical consumption, the frequency level of the mains voltage will start to drop. When said mains power frequency drops to the predefined frequency set within said frequency comparator 14, the output of said comparator will change from an off, to an on state. A frequency comparator, such as the Nation Semiconductor LM2907 series IC electronic chip could be used to achieve such a frequency function. The controller 15, will respond to the change at the output of said frequency comparator 14, and then actuate the relay 16 A, to its off, open state, which will then stop the flow of mains power from said mains power connection 11, to said manually operable on/off switch 17A. This will then stop the flow of mains power reaching said outlet socket 18 A, and said socket panel 1, would be set to its automatic off state. When said mains power frequency level rises back above the pre-defined frequency set within said frequency comparator 14, the output of the comparator will change from an on, to an off state.

Said controller 15, will respond to the change at the output of said frequency comparator 14, and then actuate said relay 16 A, to its closed state, which will then allow the flow of mains power from said mains power connection 11, to the manually operable on/off switch 17 A. As long as said manually operable on/off switch 17A, is set to its on, closed state, then the mains power will continue to flow to said outlet socket 18 A.

If a consumer decides not to use the functionality of the present invention, the override switch 13 A, can be set to the disable, open position, to prevent electrical power flowing to the remaining circuitry. The socket panel 1, would then operate effectively as a normal mains socket panel found in properties around the world.

For multiple outlet socket panels 1, in Figure lb, the extra electronic components required are shown in Figure 3 for each outlet socket 5. The same multiples of each component, 12B, 13B, 16B & 17B, are required for each outlet socket 18B.

Other external forms of the wall-mounted electronic-circuitry modified mains electricity-supplying outlet socket panel are shown in Figure 2a & 2b. Figure 2a illustrates a perspective view of the front and rear views, of an external mains electricity supplying double plug adapter 6, with outlet sockets 5, separate additional switches 4, and terminal plug pins 7, to allow connection to the normal mains power socket panel found in properties around the world; the unit as a whole embodies the circuitry described herein. Said plug adapter 6, could of course be designed to accept as many electrical plugs as required with enough outlet sockets 5. Although not necessarily, if the consumer prefers the style with, a manually operable electrical power on/off switch 2, is also possible for as many electricity outlet sockets 5.

Figure 2b illustrates a perspective view of an external four-way trailing cable 9, mains electricity supplying plug adapter 8, with outlets 5, and one separate additional switch 4, or one per outlet socket 5; the unit as a whole embodies the circuitry described herein. Said plug adapter 8, could of course be designed to accept as many electrical plugs as required with enough outlet sockets 5. Although not necessarily, if the consumer prefers the style with, a manually operable electrical power on/off switch 2, is also possible for as many electricity outlet sockets 5.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mains electrical supply outlet comprising:

a socket, connectible, in use, to an electricity consuming device, to supply mains electricity thereto;

a comparator, to compare the frequency of said mains electricity against a pre-defined value;

a controller, to monitor the output of said comparator, and in response to said output, to control the switching of electrical power to said socket; and

a connection sensor, to sense the connection of an electricity-consuming device to said socket, and to control the switching of electrical power to said comparator plus controller depending upon the absence or presence of such a connection.

2. A supply outlet according to claim 1 wherein said connection sensor is actuated by a terminal pin of a plug connectible to said socket.

3. A supply outlet according to either claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a manually operable switch to enable or disable operation of said comparator and controller.

4. A supply outlet according to any preceding claim wherein said comparator compares said frequency against a pre-defined value held within the comparator, and if the said value is obtained, change said comparator's output state to said controller.

5. A supply outlet according to claim 4, wherein said controller switches the electrical power state on or off to said socket, depending on the output state of said comparator.

6. A supply outlet substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.