Coupling point temperature and current measuring system

• US 20080068212A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boon Hou Tay, Zengjun Li
• Original Assignee: Boon Hou Tay, Zengjun Li
• Inventors: Tay, Boon Hou, Li, Zengjun
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path

Abstract

A system for measuring temperature and current at coupling points in an electric distribution network. A monitor device is connected to a series of measuring devices using radio waves. The monitor device sequentially interrogates measuring devices to determine the temperature and current of each one. The measuring devices include a core surrounding the conductor which provides power by induction to each measuring device and also provides a measure of the current. A temperature sensor connected to the core provides the temperature measurement.

Claims

1. A temperature and current measuring system, comprising:

a monitoring device; and

at least one measuring device for measuring parameters relating to a power line;

wherein said monitoring device receives data concerning the parameters from at least one measuring device remotely.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parameters are temperature and current.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parameters are measured at coupling points of an electrical distribution network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device and measuring devices are connected by radio waves.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein monitoring device includes a main processing unit, a power supply unit and a transmission/reception module.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each measuring device includes a main control unit, a transmission/reception module, a temperature sensor, a current measuring unit and a power unit.

7. A measuring device for determining temperature and current at a coupling point, comprising:

a control unit;

a transmission/reception module;

a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of said coupling point;

a power unit for inductively receiving alternating current from a power line at said coupling point for providing power to said measuring device; and

a current measuring unit for detecting current in said power line using inductive coupling.

8. The measuring device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a watch dog unit to reinitialize the control unit should a voltage of the power unit become too low or programming of the control unit fails, or whenever the control unit is not able to reset a timer of the watchdog unit within a set amount of time.

9. The measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the power unit includes a core which surrounds a power line so as to induce an AC current in said core to provide power to said measuring device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the coil is enclosed in an insulating and weatherproof material.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein a radio antenna for said transmission/reception module in the control unit is included in the material surrounding the coil.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the core is a solid torroid.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the core is a split torroid.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the core is a split torroid with a hinge.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the core takes the shape of the power line that it surrounds.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit receives data on temperature and current data and derives peak-to-peak current, root mean square current and effective other values for the coupling point.

17. A monitor device for remote sensor system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a transmission/reception module; and

a power supply unit;

said processing unit also including a liquid crystal display, a keypad and communication ports.

18. The monitoring device according to claim 17, further comprising

a watchdog unit to reinitialize the processing unit should a voltage of the power supply unit become too low or programming of the processing unit fails, or whenever the processing unit is not able to reset a timer of the watchdog unit within a set amount of time.

19. A monitoring device according to claim 17, wherein said transmission/reception module interacts with a transmission/reception module of a measuring device using radio waves.