Method and apparatus for distributing electric power

Abstract

An electric power distribution system includes a first power distribution apparatus for distributing power to individual load circuits from a main power source and a second power distribution apparatus adjacent the first apparatus. The second panel has a base, an electric power distribution conductor supported by the base for providing electric power from the alternate electric power source and a load circuit selector site on the base and is operable to supply power from the main electric power source and the electric power distribution conductor to a signal-controlled selector installed at the load circuit selector site.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for distributing electric power, the method comprising distributing electric power from an alternate electric power source to a plurality of selector sites and supplying electric power from said alternate electric power source or from a main electric power source to at least one load circuit, through a signal-controlled selector at at least one of said plurality of selector sites.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein distributing comprises conducting current on an electric power distribution conductor in proximity to said plurality of selector sites.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising supporting said electric power distribution conductor and said plurality of selector sites on a base.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising supporting a plurality of signal lines on said base to permit said plurality of signal lines to carry control signals to respective signal-controlled selectors.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising providing at least one control signal for controlling at least one signal-controlled selector.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising supporting on said base a controller operable to produce said at least one control signal.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising supporting on said base a connector for receiving said control signals from a remotely located controller.  
     
     
         8 . The method of claim I further comprising providing overload current protection to said load circuit when electric power is supplied to said at least one load circuit from said alternate electric power source.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a plurality of overload current protection mounting sites in proximity to corresponding selector sites to provide for mounting and connection of overload protection devices in series with said alternate electric power source and respective selector sites.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for distributing electric power to a load circuit from a main electric power source and an alternate electric power source, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    an electric power distribution conductor supported by said base for providing electric power from said alternate electric power source; and    a load circuit selector site on said base and operable to supply power from said main electric power source and said electric power distribution conductor to a signal-controlled selector installed at said load circuit selector site.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising the signal-controlled selector installed at said load circuit selector site, wherein said signal-controlled selector is operable to selectively connect the load circuit to said main electric power source or to said electric power distribution conductor in response to a control signal.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a signal line supported by said base for carrying said control signal to said signal-controlled selector.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a controller for providing said control signal for controlling said signal-controlled selector.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said controller comprises a processor circuit supported by said base.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a means supported by said base for receiving said control signal from a remotely located controller.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising at least one overload current protection mounting site on said base and associated with said load circuit selector site to provide for mounting of an overload current protection device.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising an overload current protection device mounted at said overload current protection mounting site.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said overload current protection device comprises a circuit breaker.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said base supports a plurality of overload current protection mounting sites associated with separate respective load circuits.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a plurality of signal-controlled selectors, each one being installed in a respective load circuit selector site.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a controller for providing respective control signals to said plurality of signal-controlled selectors.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a connector for receiving respective control signals, and signal lines on said base for communicating said control signals to said plurality of signal-controlled selectors.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of overload current protection mounting sites on said base, each overload current protection mounting site being associated with a respective load circuit selector site to provide for mounting of a respective overload current protection device in said each overload protection mounting site.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a plurality of overload protection devices, each one being installed in a respective overload current protection mounting site.  
     
     
         25 . An electric power distribution system comprising: 
 a first power distribution apparatus for distributing power to individual load circuits from a main power source; and    a second power distribution apparatus adjacent said first apparatus, said second apparatus having a base, an electric power distribution conductor supported by said base for providing electric power from an alternate electric power source and a load circuit selector site on said base and operable to supply power from said main electric power source and said electric power distribution conductor to a signal-controlled selector installed at said load circuit selector site.    
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for distributing electric power to a load circuit from a main electric power source and an alternate power source, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    means supported by said base for providing electric power from said alternate electric power source; and    means for supplying power from said main electric power source and from said means supported by said base to a device on said base for selectively supplying power from said main electric power source or from said means supported by said base to said load circuit.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said base includes a printed wiring board and said means for supplying power comprises traces on said printed wiring board.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  further including mounts connected to said traces and arranged to form a selector site to facilitate mounting of a signal-controlled selector thereon.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  further including a plurality of mounts and traces arranged to form a plurality of selector sides on said base to facilitate mounting of a plurality of respective signal-controlled selectors.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising means for carrying control signals to said plurality of respective signal-controlled selectors.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further comprising means for providing at least one control signal for controlling at least one signal-controlled selector.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further comprising means for receiving said control signals from a remotely located controller.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising means for providing overload current protection to said load circuit when electric power is supplied to said load circuit from said alternate electric power source.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising means for mounting overload current protection devices on said base for protecting respective load circuits.