Intelligent wiring devices

• US 10,147,301 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Itzler, Roy J., Scanzillo, Thomas L., AbuGhazaleh, Shadi A., Williams, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US15/449,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20170270769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 34053913, 34053924
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/46 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc G05F1/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A system for monitoring parameters of load equipment is provided. A power connector is provided with intelligence, at least one sensor, and a wireless communication component. The power connector is capable of monitoring physical parameters measured by the at least one sensor, such as voltage, current, temperature, and moisture. The system can further provide an alarm if the sensed parameter falls out of a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A device for connecting power to a load, comprising

a main housing enclosing one or more power conductors that conduct AC power from a power source outside the housing to a load device outside the housing;

one or more openings in the main housing corresponding to receptacle conductors connected to the power conductors for receiving a power connector of a load device;

at least one sensor adapted to sense a physical property of the device or a connected load;

a processor adapted to receive a signal from said at least one sensor; and

a wireless communication component adapted to communicate with a remote device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a voltage sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a current sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a moisture sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a humidity sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a power sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a power factor sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor, and to communicate the sensor information to the remote device via the wireless communication component.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor, and the processor is further programmed to compare the received sensor information with a range, and to provide an alarm to the remote device via the wireless communication component if the sensor information is outside of the range.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive instructions from the remote device via the wireless communication component, and to update a range based on the received instructions.

13. A device for connecting power to a load, comprising

a main housing enclosing one or more power conductors;

one or more openings in the main housing corresponding to receptacle conductors connected to the power conductors for receiving a power connector of a load device;

at least one sensor adapted to sense a physical property of the device or a connected load;

a processor adapted to receive a signal from said at least one sensor; and

a wireless communication component adapted to communicate with a remote device, further comprising an auxiliary device comprising a second housing, the second housing comprising an auxiliary sensor, the auxiliary sensor communicating auxiliary sensor information to the processor

wherein the auxiliary device comprises pass-through power conductors enclosed in the second housing, the power conductors extending from the second housing at a first end, and terminating in receptacle conductors corresponding to the receptacle conductors of the main housing at a second end, such that the second housing is adapted to be connected between the main housing and the load.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of current sensor cores, each arranged coaxially with different power conductors.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensor cores each an outer diameter substantially equal to a distance between power conductors, and the plurality cores are arranged on different axial planes.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensor cores are coplanar.

17. A device for connecting power to a load, comprising

a main housing enclosing one or more power conductors that conduct AC power from a power source outside the housing to a load device outside the housing, the one or more power conductors being connected to respective contacts extending out of the housing;

at least one sensor adapted to sense a physical property of the device or a connected load;

a processor adapted to receive sensor input from the at least one sensor; and

a communication wireless component adapted to communicate with a remote device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a voltage sensor.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a current sensor.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a moisture sensor.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a humidity sensor.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a power sensor.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a power factor sensor.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor, and to communicate the sensor information to the remote device via the wireless communication component.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor, and the processor is further programmed to compare the received sensor information with a range, and to provide an alarm to the remote device via the wireless communication component if the sensor information is outside of the range.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein the processor is adapted to receive instructions from the remote device via the wireless communication component, and to update a range based on the received instructions.

29. A device for connecting power to a load, comprising

a main housing enclosing one or more power conductors connected to respective contacts extending out of the housing;

at least one sensor adapted to sense a physical property of the device or a connected load;

a processor adapted to receive sensor input from the at least one sensor; and

a communication wireless component adapted to communicate with a remote device,

further comprising an auxiliary device comprising a second housing, the second housing comprising an auxiliary sensor, the auxiliary sensor communicating auxiliary sensor information to the processor, wherein the auxiliary device comprises pass-through power conductors enclosed in the second housing, the power conductors extending from the second housing at a first end, and terminating in receptacle conductors corresponding to the receptacle conductors of the main housing at a second end, such that the second housing is adapted to be connected between the main housing and the load.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of current sensor cores, each arranged coaxially with different power conductors.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of sensor cores each an outer diameter substantially equal to a distance between power conductors, and the plurality cores are arranged on different axial planes.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of sensor cores are coplanar.