Modular Fuseholders With Wireless Communication Capabilities

• US 20080048819A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Darr, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/925,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048819A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/206
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/032 using RFID technology in switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/30 Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

Modular fuseholders and systems are provided. Modular fuseholders include a main body having a fuse-receiving receptacle for substantially enclosing a fuse within, a detecting means connected to the fuse, and a signal transmitting means connected to the detecting means. The detecting means is configured to detect an operational state of the fuse, and the signal transmitting means is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for indicating the an operational state of the fuse. Modular fuseholder systems include a modular fuseholder housing a fuse.

Claims

1. A modular fuseholder comprising:

a main body including a fuse-receiving receptacle configured to substantially enclose a fuse within the main body;

a monitoring circuit configured in parallel across terminal elements of the fuse for monitoring at least one operational state of the fuse; and

a communication device connected to the monitoring circuit, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for indicating the at least one operational state of the fuse.

2. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a pivotally mounted drawer coupled to an outer surface of the main body.

3. The modular fuseholder of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the communication device is positioned within the drawer.

4. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, wherein the fuse-receiving receptacle is configured to receive a cylindrical fuse.

5. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a processor, a memory, or both.

6. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, wherein the communication device is powered by a battery.

7. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal.

8. The modular fuseholder of claim 7, wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency transponder.

9. The modular fuseholder of claim 7, wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

10. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, further comprising optical isolators, wherein the monitoring circuit latches the optical isolators when a fuse element of the fuse opens and breaks an electrical connection through the fuse, and transmits a wireless signal to a remote device.

11. The modular fuseholder of claim 1, further comprising an indicating assembly configured to provide visual indication of an operative state of the fuse when the fuse is received in fuse-receiving receptacle, wherein the indicating assembly includes an indicating element that changes appearance when a fuse element of the fuse opens and breaks an electrical connection through the fuse.

12. A modular fuseholder system comprising:

a fuse; and

a fuseholder comprising;

a main body including a fuse-receiving receptacle configured to substantially enclose the fuse within the main body;

a monitoring circuit configured in parallel across terminal elements of the fuse for monitoring at least one operational state of the fuse; and

a communication device connected to the monitoring circuit, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for indicating the at least one operational state of the fuse.

13. The modular fuseholder system of claim 12, wherein the fuse is a cylindrical fuse.

14. The modular fuseholder system of claim 12, wherein the communication device further comprises a processor, a memory, or both.

15. The modular fuseholder system of claim 12, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal.

16. The modular fuseholder system of claim 12, further comprising optical isolators, wherein the monitoring circuit latches the optical isolators when a fuse element of the fuse opens and breaks an electrical connection through the fuse, and transmits a wireless signal to a remote device.

17. The modular fuseholder system of claim 12, further comprising an indicating assembly configured to provide visual indication of an operative state of the fuse when the fuse is received in fuse-receiving receptacle, wherein the indicating assembly includes an indicating element that changes appearance when a fuse element of the fuse opens and breaks an electrical connection through the fuse.

18. A modular fuseholder comprising:

a main body including a fuse-receiving receptacle configured to substantially enclose a fuse within the main body;

a detecting means connected to the fuse and configured to detect at least one operational state of the fuse; and

a signal transmitting means connected to the detecting means, wherein the signal transmitting means is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote device for indicating the at least one operational state of the fuse.

19. The modular fuseholder of claim 18, wherein the detecting means is a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor.

20. The modular fuseholder of claim 18, wherein the signal transmitting means is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal.

21. The modular fuseholder of claim 18, further comprising an indicating assembly configured to provide visual indication of an operative state of the fuse when the fuse is received in fuse-receiving receptacle, wherein the indicating assembly includes an indicating element that changes appearance when a fuse element of the fuse opens and breaks an electrical connection through the fuse.